There are a number of reasons why you should look for a specialised ski insurance policy rather than simply going with your usual travel insurance. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover you for all the usual stuff, but many insurance companies tend to have some restrictions when it comes to ski or snowboard holidays that may not be that obvious when you’re simply looking at a quote. If the purpose of your trip is to ski or snowboard, or even if you’re just going to squeeze a bit in somewhere in the middle, make sure to be positive that you will be completely covered in any situation. Reading through page after page of policy wording can be tedious but it is often in the small fine print that many people tend to ignore that you will find those important exclusions or restrictions that you were unaware of. Trust me, it is well worth sitting down and taking the time to read through everything rather than ending up in a situation where you are cursing yourself for not having done so.
Some important areas that you should definitely check up on are:
- Unlimited medical cover – many travel insurance policies cover unlimited medical and hospital expenses as well as emergency medical assistance such as helicopter rescue, ambulance cover as well as the cost of flying you back home if necessary. As you well know skiing and snowboarding are risky activities, and though you may think of yourself as a pro as you fly straight down the mountain you really never know what might happen. There’s always more than one of us who ends up with a broken wrist from a snowboarding fall, or a twisted knee from a bad skiing tumble, not to mention the worse accidents that happen every year. It is crucial to check that your insurance company will cover you 100% if you are skiing or boarding, and if not then look into specialised companies such as ski-insurance.com.au. Another area you need to consider is if you have a pre-existing condition, as many companies exclude cover for pre-existings if you are on a snow holiday. If you can’t find the wording in the policy disclosure statement then give the call centre a ring as they will be able to give you the quick and helpful answers you need.
- Bad weather closure – there’s nothing worse than heading off on your exciting skiing or boarding holiday to get the resort and end up sitting inside all week because of shocking weather, or on the other hand, not going at all because there is simply not enough snow. Particularly if you are skiing in Australia with the inconstant seasons you never really know what the snowfall is going to be like. Though many insurance companies offer cover for travel delay, additional expenses and cancellation fees, the potential reasons for cancelling a snow holiday may not be covered.
- Cover for ski or snowboard equipment – If you own your own skis or board then you will appreciate that they can be costly items to repair or replace. Having a good level of cover for accidental loss, breakage or theft of your snow equipment is a great relief for active skiers. Look for a ski insurance policy that will not only cover the costs of replacing or repairing your own equipment, but will also let you hire replacement gear so that you don’t miss any precious time on the slopes.
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