Top Advice on Travel Insurance for Ski Trip Coverage
Why You Need Ski Travel Insurance
Standard travel insurance usually does not cover adventure sports like skiing and snowboarding. With around 600,000 injuries reported yearly on US-only ski slopes, skiing and snowboarding mishaps are more prevalent than you may imagine. Medical evacuation from a far-off mountain might run tens of thousands of dollars. Unexpected events, including blizzards, avalanches, and closed paths, can throw off travel plans and result in missed prepaid expenses.
Coverage for Medical Expenses and Evacuation
Search for policies with strong medical expenditure coverage—ideally about $150,000 or $250,000. Ensure your policy covers emergency medical evacuation; coverage should ideally be more than $500,000. This covers a helicopter ride from the mountain to a hospital. Such policies with unlimited medical bills should be given more thought. Find out if the policy calls for a refund or pays costs upfront.
Coverage for Trip Interruptions and Cancellations
Should your vacation be interrupted for a covered reason—such as injury or illness—trip interruption coverage pays you back for non-refundable trip expenses. See whether your policy covers extra lodging costs from travel delays connected to weather. Look for "Cancel For Any Reason" (CFAR) coverage if you require the flexibility to cancel for any cause. Usually, CFAR returns 50–75% of your planned, non-refundable trip expenses.
Coverage for Sporting Equipment
Many travel insurance packages have limited luggage coverage, which is insufficient for pricey ski gear. Consider including a specific winter sports package or extra sporting equipment coverage. Verify loss, theft, and damage coverage limitations to be sure they reflect the worth of your equipment. See whether the policy covers rental expenses for the replacement or repair of your equipment.
Coverage for Piste Closure and Avalanche Delays
Should the resort close due to inadequate snow, too much snow, or avalanche risk, "Lost Skier Days" or "Travel Inconvenience" coverage can reimburse you for prepaid ski passes and other fees. Specific insurance pays a set daily inconvenience fee during closure.
Off-piste and Backcountry Skiing
If you intend to ski off-piste or backcountry, ensure your policy mainly addresses these pursuits. Many rules mandate that you ski under a licensed guide for off-piste coverage to be acceptable. Check the policy's definition of "off-piste" and "backcountry" since they could differ significantly.
Other Important Considerations
Before you buy, compare several quotations from respectable companies. Exclusively and limited policies should be especially carefully read by you. Think about insurance elements like your age, location, and trip length. See whether your credit card provides travel insurance and if it covers skiing-related pursuits. Search for policies, including 24/7 emergency aid systems.
| Provider | Policy Type | Winter Sports Cover Duration | Ski Equipment Cover | Piste Closure Cover | Medical Expenses Cover | Lost Lift Pass Cover | Avalanche Delay Cover | Off-Piste Cover | Other Notable Benefits/Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFU Mutual | Add-on to standard travel insurance | 30 days | £500 | £500 | £5 million | £500 | Reasonable extra accommodation and transport | Included (within resort boundaries, subject to resort advice) | Covers piste skiing, sledging, monoskiing, snowshoeing |
| Admiral Gold | Upgrade package | 21 days | £750 | £250 | £15 million | £250 per week | £200 | Yes, with qualified guide | From £25 |
| Barclays | Standard/Add-on | 31 days | £500 | £300 | £10 million | £250 | £200 | Yes, within resort boundaries, subject to resort management's safety considerations | Excludes freestyle skiing/snowboarding; includes emergency rescue services |
| Virgin Money | Single/Multi-trip | 17 days (annual multi-trip); Not specified (single trip) | £750 | £400 | £15 million | £500 | £400 | Yes, with qualified guide, within resort boundaries | Three levels of cover (Red, Silver, Gold); optional gadget, cruise, and car hire excess cover |
| Nationwide FlexPlus | Included with FlexPlus current account | Up to 31 days per trip (can be extended) | £500 | £5,000 | £10 million | £500 | Covered under travel disruption | Included (details not explicitly provided, but travel disruption cover suggests inclusion) | Automatic cover for account holders; family cover; mobile phone and breakdown cover included |
| Staysure Signature | Included in "Signature" policies/Add-on | 28 days (Signature); Not specified (Add-on) | £500 | £200 | Unlimited | £250 | £160 | Yes, within authorized areas, possibly with a guide (details vary) | Covers 11 winter sports; unused ski school fees covered |
| Covered 2Go | Extension to Gold/Platinum | Not specified | £1,000 | £500 | £15 million | £500 | £500 | Yes, guided | Includes personal liability; covers ice-skating and tobogganing; helmet required, no skiing while intoxicated |
| Multitrip.com | Single Trip/Multitrip/Backpacker | Variable, depends on policy | Included | Included | Included (details not specified) | Included | Included | Yes, except unsafe areas unless with a guide | Covers various winter sports including snowmobiling and sledging; optional Travel Disruption, Flight Cancellation and Excess Waiver |
| World Nomads | Standard, Explorer, Epic, Annual | Up to 180 days per trip (single trip); Up to 45 days per trip (annual) | Up to policy limit (Standard $1000, Explorer $2000, Epic $3000, Annual $2000) - Secondary coverage | Up to $250 per incident (Explorer/Epic, within time sensitive period) | Standard Plan: $125,000Explorer Plan: $150,000Epic Plan: $250,000Annual Plan: $100,000 | 50% reimbursement if 50% of slopes closed for 8+ hours (terms apply) | Covered under Trip Interruption/Cancellation | Yes, including heli-skiing/boarding (some activities Explorer/Epic only) | 250+ activities covered; covers various levels of skiing/snowboarding; gear coverage for loss/damage by carrier or theft; 24/7 emergency assistance; non-insurance services like Blue Ribbon Baggage |
| Generali | Standard, Preferred, Premium | Not specified | Up to $1500 (Preferred)Up to $2000 (Premium) | Covered under trip interruption | $50,000 (Standard)$150,000 (Preferred)$250,000 (Premium) | Covered under Trip Interruption | Covered under trip interruption | Covered (within resort boundaries, with restrictions on some plans) | Covers various winter sports; sporting equipment delay coverage (rentals reimbursed); cancel for any reason available on premium |
| Allianz Global Assistance | OneTrip Prime, various others | Not specified | Included (limits apply, receipts required) | Covered for weather-related closures (OneTrip Prime) | Included (details not specified) | Covered (OneTrip Prime) | Covered under Trip Interruption/Delay | No, excludes skiing/snowboarding outside marked trails or accessed by helicopter | 24/7 assistance; baggage delay benefit; kids 17 and under free with parent/grandparent (excluding PA); SmartBenefits option for fixed inconvenience payment ($100/person/day for covered delay) |
| Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) | Various | Not specified | Up to $1,500 (AdrenalineCare) / Up to $2,500 (LuxuryCare) | Covered under certain circumstances (ExactCare, LuxuryCare), subject to policy terms | ExactCare: Up to $50,000, LuxuryCare: Up to $100,000, AdrenalineCare: Up to $50,000 | Covered if part of unused Ski Pack (ExactCare, LuxuryCare) | Covered under Trip Delay/Interruption (ExactCare, LuxuryCare) | Covered, with restrictions (ExactCare, LuxuryCare, AdrenalineCare) | 24/7 access to emergency medical assistance; fast claims processing with BHTP Burst |
| Auras | Single/Multi/Annual | Not specified | Included ("Active" coverage) | Not specified | Up to $35,000 (example shown) | Reimbursed for unused days (with restrictions) | Covered (if causes flight delay over 4 hours) | Included ("Active" and "Extreme" coverage) | Covers ages 1-100; COVID-19 coverage; various "Calm," "Active," "Extreme," and "Sport" activity levels; online application and claims; 14-day money-back guarantee |
| Assurski | Daily to Annual | Variable, depends on policy | Up to €1,500 (annual) | Reimbursed if closure >50% for 1 consecutive month (Assur'Glisse Saison Premium Fond) | Up to €1,500 | Reimbursed pro-rata (accident/illness, Assur'Glisse Saison Premium Fond); from day after accident (2+ day pass) | Covered (if affects access to resort for 24+ hours, Assur'Glisse Saison Premium Fond) | Yes, including heli-skiing without guide | Search and rescue including helicopter; immediate coverage, no waiting period; mobile app; annual card covers winter and summer sports (€49.99) |
| Budget Direct | Comprehensive, Essential, Basic, Domestic, Annual Multi-Trip (add-on Snow Sports or Snow Sports+ cover) | 17 days (Annual Multi-Trip) or Not Specified | Up to $1,250 (with Snow Sports or Snow Sports+ add-on) | Up to $600 (with Snow Sports or Snow Sports+ add-on) | Unlimited overseas (Comprehensive, Essential, Basic); No medical coverage (Domestic) | Up to $600 for Ski Pack (includes lift pass, with add-on) | Covered (with Snow Sports/Snow Sports+ add-on) | Included with Snow Sports+ add-on (guided heli-skiing/boarding covered) | 15% off online purchases; 24/7 access to medical network; covers various other winter activities (on-piste with Snow Sports, off-piste with Snow Sports+); Adventure/Adventure+ cover for other activities |
| SingSaver | Various | Not specified | Included in some plans (details vary) | Included in some plans (details vary) | Variable, up to S$250,000 | Included in some plans (details vary) | Covered by some plans (details vary) | Included in some plans, details may vary | Highlights specific plans for affordable add-ons, equipment coverage, cashless treatment, and high-risk destinations |
