Travel insurance is recommended whenever a holiday from home is planned, but for skiers, having the appropriate coverage is vital. Whether on piste or off piste, a skiing holiday does not have to be ruined by the workings of man or Mother Nature when winter athletes consider all the angles.
For EU residents, having a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for ski holidays can be beneficial as well as economical, but it will not cover for other eventualities a ski holiday may present. While this is not an insurance policy, the EHIC gives the holder certain rights to receive health care. If skiing in France, having the Carré Neige or Carte Neige in addition to a personal policy or the EHIC is recommended.
Injuries while skiing or snowboarding are inevitable. Look for a policy that also allows for after care to injuries suffered while on holiday. Coverage for pre-existing medical issues can be found too.
Many policies for skiers and snowboarders cover things like personal or rental equipment, but consider coverage of rental equipment if personal items are damaged or lost.
Not all reasons for insurance are injury related. Skiers and snowboarders can obtain insurance covering inconvenience of the weather itself. For example, an avalanche at the mountain can impact a ski holiday. Some policies will cover expenses if travel to or from the slopes are delayed because of avalanche or bad weather in general.
Another worse-case scenario is being in need of search and rescue operations. A good policy will include coverage whether this happens on the slopes or off.
How many ski holidays taken during the season is something to consider. If more than one holiday is planned, annual coverage may be a more economical option rather than paying for a single trip every time.