Does winter travel insurance really protect?

Arranging insurance is hardly the most exciting of activities at the best of times, but in the holiday season it really is one of those things to “tick off the list”. This disinterested attitude is putting travellers; in particular winter sports enthusiasts; at risk, comments Moneyextra.

This risk comes as a result of providers varying policy contents – for example the winter sports cover provided by Norwich Union covers seven sporting activities, which includes skiing, off-piste skiing & snowboarding, whilst AIG covers against these and certain “extreme” sports such as heli-skiing. So how can travellers frolic in the snow and be absolutely sure that they are covered against medical or legal bills?

Here is Moneyextra’s guide to guaranteed protection:

Check before you buy

Don’t assume that your winter travel insurance automatically provides cover for winter sports, the truth is that most providers offer this cover as an optional addition to the standard policy

If you intend on participating in winter sports double check which sports are covered; if your preferred activity isn’t covered as standard then find out if you can have it added to your policy and whether or not this will incur an additional premium

Confirm what you are covered for AND what you’re not

Just as important as confirming how far you’re covered you should also confirm the exclusions as these will also vary from provider to provider

Most providers will automatically exclude professional competitors or race participants from cover

Read your policy wording

It might be duller than watching paint dry, but essentially it is the wording on your insurance policy that dictates the level of cover you have, regardless of what you’ve paid for

Take your policy document with you

After all of the effort to ensure that your policy is right for your needs, the last thing you should do is leave the policy document behind! By taking it with you, you’ll be able to double check how far you’re covered and make an immediate claim if you need to.

Robin Amlôt, Senior Editor at Moneyextra says, “If you enjoy the adrenaline rush of winter sports you should plan ahead and make sure your travel insurance is appropriate, covering you for the sports you intend to partake in and mountain evacuation. If you don’t, you risk footing a bill which can run into thousands of pounds, especially if you’re holidaying in the US where medical bills are much higher than Europe.”