In this installment of our learn to ski guide we look at ski insurance.

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.

Unanticipated costs during a ski trip can include things like equipment that’s broken or stolen, piste closure, a lost or stolen suitcase, and the biggies like personal liability and repatriation/restoration costs for accidents where you may be at fault.

These are all reasons why purchasing an insurance policy for your ski trip makes the best sense. How can you choose, however, from the tremendous range of polices out there?

First, think about the kind 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. Basic policies start in the range of $30, and should be available through your travel agent, insurance broker, and sometimes even in the supermarket.

If you’re a more advanced skier, and wish to engage in some off-piste, heli-skiing or cat-skiing, you’ll need to find a policy specific to the activities you wish to do. 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.

You must also consider how much coverage you need. Within a policy of insurance, there can be different bands of coverage, whether or not your activities change. An example of a premium policy would be coverage of up to a million dollars for medical expenses, whereas for losses under a basic policy, you would be covered up to $250,000. Also, pay attention to the excess payments required on any claims made; they can be quite substantial on cheaper policies.

Whichever type of policy and level of coverage you do go for, be sure to buy your insurance in advance of your holiday, or it will be invalid. 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. Read through it thoroughly before signing the contract and ask questions about any aspects of it that you’re unsure about.

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