We look at getting insured in this installment of our learn to ski guide.
About one-third of all skiers do not purchase insurance, and thereby open themselves up to the risk of owing literally thousands of dollars of medical and/or rescue bills in the event of an accident.
Stolen or broken equipment, baggage loss, piste closure, personal liability and repatriation could also leave you out of pocket.
These are all reasons why purchasing an insurance policy for your ski trip makes the best sense. Choosing from the huge range of policies, however, can be tricky.
The first thing you should take into account is the type of skier you are. If you're a beginner or inexperienced skier, or someone happy to stick to the piste at all times, you'll find basic policies will suit your requirements, even the cheapest ones. Starting right around $30, basic insurance policies can be purchased from your insurance broker, your travel agent, and you might be surprised to find this type of insurance offered in the supermarket.
More advanced skiers who will be doing off-piste, heli-skiing or cat-skiing will need policies that cover those activities. Premiums can be significantly more expensive in line with the increased risk or danger and you should expect to have to use a specialist insurance provider to be fully covered.
The next step is to consider the amount of coverage you will need. Often policies will have different bands of cover, even if the activities covered don't change. A basic policy, for example, can provide you with $250,000 worth of protection, while a premium policy may pay up to $1,000,000 for medical expenses. While a cheaper policy may save you money initially, it is important to check out how much in excess payments on claims made you could be responsible for, as these costs can be significant.
To ensure that you are covered with a valid policy of insurance, make sure you buy it before you take your trip. Auditors always ask for proof of travel, such as air tickets, to guard against people buying insurance after their accident.
As with any policy of insurance, read the terms, including the fine print, thoroughly so that you know exactly what you are covered against. Nothing will protect you more than to know what's covered in your policy, and this can only happen if you actually give the contract a thorough read-through and ask questions about anything that doesn't make sense to you or that you don't understand.
About one-third of all skiers do not purchase insurance, and thereby open themselves up to the risk of owing literally thousands of dollars of medical and/or rescue bills in the event of an accident.
Stolen or broken equipment, baggage loss, piste closure, personal liability and repatriation could also leave you out of pocket.
These are all reasons why purchasing an insurance policy for your ski trip makes the best sense. Choosing from the huge range of policies, however, can be tricky.
The first thing you should take into account is the type of skier you are. If you're a beginner or inexperienced skier, or someone happy to stick to the piste at all times, you'll find basic policies will suit your requirements, even the cheapest ones. Starting right around $30, basic insurance policies can be purchased from your insurance broker, your travel agent, and you might be surprised to find this type of insurance offered in the supermarket.
More advanced skiers who will be doing off-piste, heli-skiing or cat-skiing will need policies that cover those activities. Premiums can be significantly more expensive in line with the increased risk or danger and you should expect to have to use a specialist insurance provider to be fully covered.
The next step is to consider the amount of coverage you will need. Often policies will have different bands of cover, even if the activities covered don't change. A basic policy, for example, can provide you with $250,000 worth of protection, while a premium policy may pay up to $1,000,000 for medical expenses. While a cheaper policy may save you money initially, it is important to check out how much in excess payments on claims made you could be responsible for, as these costs can be significant.
To ensure that you are covered with a valid policy of insurance, make sure you buy it before you take your trip. Auditors always ask for proof of travel, such as air tickets, to guard against people buying insurance after their accident.
As with any policy of insurance, read the terms, including the fine print, thoroughly so that you know exactly what you are covered against. Nothing will protect you more than to know what's covered in your policy, and this can only happen if you actually give the contract a thorough read-through and ask questions about anything that doesn't make sense to you or that you don't understand.
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