Don't take a gamble on the slopes this half term
As the countdown starts for half-term breaks, many families will be planning to hit the slopes. But leading online ski insurance provider, insurewithease.com, is warning about the financial and emotional risks, if skiers don’t get the right travel cover.
It only takes a broken limb to see medical costs abroad start to soar, according to insurewithease.com which saw the average cost of a winter sports claim come in at just under £500. Yet a Winter Sports Travel Insurance policy for a whole family* could cost as little as £30.00 with insurewithease.com.
“Whether a family are snowboarding in Bulgaria or skiing in the French Alps, the first rule of winter sports is get adequate insurance,” says Sarah Findlay, Online Marketing Manager for insurewithease.com. “Not many people can afford to add another £500 onto the cost of their holiday, at short notice, but that could be the reality if you come a cropper on the slopes, without travel insurance.”
“An accident as simple as a torn ligament or sprain could set a family back hundreds of pounds in medical bills. And this can quickly soar into several thousands if someone needs an air ambulance to lift them from the slopes to a hospital.”
Insurewithease.com claims data shows that 55% of winter sports claims are for medical reasons, with fractures and broken bones being the biggest cause of a claim at 15%. While the average cost of a claim is £478, a serious leg fracture in US resorts such as Colorado or Lake Tahoe, could cost as much as $43,000(USD), or in Eastern Europe charges could reach £10,000.
Families heading to the EU should apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles them to some free or reduced price medical treatments. However, the EHIC won’t cover the cost of air ambulances, trip cancellation or repatriation, so the best protection is adequate travel insurance.
Findlay concludes, “Anyone travelling to winter sports resorts without winter sports insurance could find themselves paying considerably more for their holiday, if they have an accident.
“Insurewithease.com offers a range of flexible policies including free cover for children on single trip policies, all in a matter of clicks. Even a short trip can end up costing thousands if someone falls ill or has an accident, so travelling with the right level of insurance is crucial for that added peace of mind. If the worst does happen, holidaymakers will want to know that their costs are covered and that they will be taken care of when they need it most.”
Insurewithease.com Winter Sports Travel Insurance
Insurewithease.com provides a full range of ski insurance policies catering for families, couples and single holidaymakers. The insurewithease.com policy gives travellers the essential elements of travel insurance cover for their trip, with the flexibility to adjust the policy to fit personal requirements.
Key benefits
- Free cover for children on single trip policies
- Cover for your own or hired equipment, ski passes and ski packs as well as avalanche and piste closure cover
- Excess waiver available on all policies
- Airspace closure cover available
- Travel dispute cover available
- 24-hour worldwide medical emergency assistance
- Text message service providing policy number and emergency assistance details
*Quote based on a five day winter sports trip to France for a family of two adults and two children, correct as of 28 January 2011.