Ski travel insurance

Speed, exhilaration, clean mountain air – who doesn’t enjoy an adrenaline-packed skiing holiday?

But skiing also comes with a high risk of injury. From collisions to falls to broken bones, having the right ski insurance cover is essential. Especially given the potential costs of having to be airlifted off the slopes.

Ski travel insurance, also known as winter sports insurance, can protect you against the specific risks associated with skiing and snowboarding holidays.

If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive. Whatever happens, tell your insurance provider the truth. If you give false information or miss something out, your claim could be rejected.

When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers that will cover them with no exclusions.

If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.

If you’re going skiing in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, the GHIC/EHIC gives you access to necessary state healthcare on the same basis as a local.

But it won’t cover the following, potentially significant, costs:

• Mountain rescue

• Private treatment

• Repatriation if you need to be flown home.

The GHIC also doesn’t cover you for any ski-related risks, like piste closure or avalanche cover. And it doesn’t give you cover for baggage loss and cancellation. So it doesn’t replace ski travel insurance.

It's also worth knowing that treatment with a GHIC/EHIC isn't necessarily free. You may need to pay, if a local person would be charged for the same healthcare. But if you use your ski insurance policy to access treatment, the costs will be covered.

The GHIC has replaced the EHIC. But if you have an EHIC issued before the end of 2020, it will be valid until the expiry date. You can apply for a GHIC free on the NHS website. If someone tries to charge you it’s a scam.

There are some other things to think about when arranging your ski insurance cover, including:

Where are you going?

Ski trip insurance will typically cost more in the USA and Canada than in Europe. This is because medical treatment in those countries is more expensive.

How many people are going?

If it’s a family holiday or you’re travelling as a couple or a group, you might find it better value to buy ski travel insurance that covers all of you under one policy. This won’t be the case however, if one person has a pre-existing medical condition – that could push up the price for everyone.

Also, if you’re planning more than one skiing trip over 12 months, you might save money by buying an annual policy.

How’s your health?

Be sure to let your insurance provider know if you have a pre-existing medical condition, including any injuries. If not, they could refuse to pay your bills if you need to make a claim.

The best time to buy ski insurance cover is straight after booking your holiday.

That means you’re likely to be protected if your trip is cancelled.

A good tip for finding cheap ski holiday insurance is to shop around.

You can compare prices here at Compare the Market. Just tick the ‘winter sports cover’ box when entering your details.

It’s worth noting that the cheaper ski insurance cover may not necessarily be the best.

It’s also important to make sure you have adequate levels of cover for each element of your ski travel insurance policy, like cancellation cover and baggage cover.

To get a ski travel insurance quote, you’ll just need to answer some basic questions, including:

• Where are you going?

• When do you want cover to start?

• How many people do you want to insure?

• Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions?