Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
What is winter sports travel insurance?
Winter sports insurance cover is essentially an add-on to a standard medical travel insurance policy or a single specialist policy that can cover you for medical treatment should you incur any injuries on the ski slopes or in any other winter sport setting.
Having a medical condition should never prohibit you from enjoying a winter sports holiday – although, it will likely impact your travel insurance.
Regardless of whether you’re looking for the best ski holiday insurance deals or best winter sports insurance cover in general – you can compare quotes for specialist medical travel insurance with us.
Before you do, though - feel free to continue reading to find out everything you need to know about this type of travel insurance. You can use the menu to navigate this page as you see fit.
Specialist Medical Cover
We only work with providers who specialise in covering pre-existing conditions.
Save Money
No discounts. No pressure. We’ll always show you the best prices from providers.
What other winter sports are usually covered?
Besides from skiing (standard and off-piste), other winter sports include:
- Snowboarding
- Tobogganing
- Ice-skating
- Ice hockey
- Bobsleighing
- Luging
- Glacier climbing, walking or trekking
- Ice fishing
As fun as taking part in winter sports might be, sometimes they can be dangerous. Many holidaymakers have needed medical treatment whilst staying in various ski resorts abroad over the years.
A standard single trip travel insurance policy is unlikely to cover you for winter sports, and you should consider a policy individually designed for winter sports holidays.
It’s important to know exactly what kind of activities you plan to partake in before getting a quote for winter sports travel insurance.
Do I need winter sports travel insurance?
Given the number of people who book ski holidays every year, winter sports travel insurance is very common - and for good reason.
Most standard travel insurance policies won’t include the suitable coverage you need for this type of trip.
Some might - but you should never assume that a standard travel insurance policy will cover you for your ski holiday. The same applies for your European Health Insurance card (EHIC), which can cover certain medical costs within the jurisdiction of Europe but it is not a suitable substitute for winter sports cover.
You may expect a ski insurance policy to cover you for any potential medical costs and also any issues related to ski equipment. For example, it is highly advised to ensure that you have a sufficient level of baggage cover to replace any lost possessions – like expensive ski gear.
It is also recommended that the cancellation cover included in your policy is equal to or even greater than the cost of your holiday overall – and considers any pre-booked equipment or ski lessons.
What does winter sports travel insurance cover?
Winter sports travel insurance cover varies from case to case and depends on the insurer.
You can expect a standard medical travel insurance policy to cover you for curtailment, cancellation, lost, damaged or stolen personal belongings, personal accidents, emergency medical expenses, legal expenses, personal liability, and travel delay.
However, a specialist winter sports insurance policy is designed to go further. This may well include stretch to cover you for unforeseen circumstances like avalanches or piste closures out of your control.
Specialist ski equipment insurance may also cover you for equipment hire if it ends up being damaged, lost or stolen.
Will my policy cover me for off-piste skiing?
Not all insurers provide off-piste ski insurance – so it’s important to check the wording on a prospective policy before actually purchasing, especially if it’s a standard ski-insurance or general winter sports travel insurance policy.
Off-piste skiing is generally considered to be more of a potential risk on your health than skiing on normal routes. Like you need to be a more advanced skier to attempt off-piste runs, you need a more advanced insurance policy as a result.
Off-piste insurance may cover helicopter costs if you need to be airlifted or rescued from a remote area. In Europe, these costs can be huge – so having the right kind of travel insurance tailored towards potential situations like this is of the utmost importance.
What are the different levels of ski insurance cover?
Yes, there are different levels of ski and winter sports cover - and this is usually reflected in the cost.
So, while you might be pleased to find a variety of very cheap quotes - just bear in mind that these policies might not offer everything you need.
It’s worth paying slightly more to get the most comprehensive level of coverage if you feel you need it. That way, you can rest assured that you won’t be out of pocket should you ever need to make a claim - and you can enjoy your winter sports holiday with peace of mind.
Optional extras
Winter sports cover is one of a selection of optional extras you can add to single trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance.
When you compare cover with us, you can add cruise cover and gadget cover along with winter sports cover if you wish to do so.
Can I get family ski insurance?
Yes - you can add winter sports cover to family travel insurance if you need to. Again, not all providers offer this type of coverage, but many do - and you can compare quotes from them all in one place with Medical Travel Compared.
All you need to do is select winter sports cover from the optional extras menu and then click the family option when asked who you’d like to be covered on our quick and easy online form.
We’ll then provide you with quotes from a range of suitable providers who can cover the whole family for your winter sports holiday.
Compare deals and get the best ski holiday cover
With Medical Travel Compared, you can compare winter sports cover from a range of specialist travel insurance providers - all in one place.
This takes away the hassle of jumping from website to website looking to get the best deal. Once you complete our fast online form, we do it all for you - searching quotes from multiple providers all offering specialist cover for winter sports activities.
Why not explore your options and get a quote today? And, don’t forget to select the winter sports option!
Get a quoteRated Excellent
Trusted by thousands of people like you who've reviewed us on Trustpilot.
Save Time
No phone calls or paperwork. Join millions who've sorted cover online in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Single Trip insurance is for one-off, individual trips and will cover your specified travel dates. This is usually up to 45 days; however, some insurance providers can cover up to 94 days. If you’re not a frequent traveller, single trip cover is a great option and will likely be cheaper than an annual multi-trip cover.
If you travel 2 or more times a year, annual trip cover may very well save you money. The maximum duration of any trip will always be specified and will vary by provider. But don't worry, when you get a quote, we'll ask you what your maximum trip length is and only show you quotes that match!
You will need to add each country that you are visiting. If you are on a flight stopover, this will include any countries where you leave the airport. If you are on a cruise, it includes any countries where your ship will be docking at.
We'll ask you a series of questions about the medical history for you and any travellers on your quote. If you answer yes to any of these, you will need to tell us more about that condition. This could be a condition that a traveller has now or has had in the past. This makes it easy to know what you need to disclose.
If you are not sure what conditions you need to declare, we have online support available to help you 24/7!
* Price is based on 1 traveller aged 61, who has no medical conditions and is travelling to France for 7 nights with winter sports cover. The price is correct as of October 2024. Prices may vary according to your individual requirements.
Trusted by people
just like you
Don't just take our word for it...
If we're unable to help you find cover for a pre-existing medical condition, the Money Helper Directory has listings of companies that may be able to assist you. Further details can be found on their website.
Related Products
Medical Travel Insurance
We're specialists in helping people find travel insurance cover for a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions. See how we can offer you peace of mind for when you next travel.
Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
Taking more than one or two holidays a year? Compare annual multi-trip travel insurance from over 30 specialist insurers and save money whilst having peace of mind whilst you travel.
Worldwide Travel Insurance
Read our guides to top destinations to help you find the right protection for your next adventure!
