Health insurance, liability insurance, equipment insurance – are all these policies really necessary for a short ski holiday? Not every type of insurance is absolutely essential for every holidaymaker. Others, however, can protect skiers from high costs. Winter sports enthusiasts should therefore always check before their holiday which skiing insurance policies are really worth it and, if in doubt, take out appropriate coverage. SnowTrex shows which ones these are.
Why insure at all?
Picture the following nightmare: you return from your lunch break at the chalet to the ski racks and find a completely different pair of skis where you left yours. Someone has taken your skis – whether on purpose or by accident, it doesn’t matter. They’re gone, and you’re furious. Not only that, but your day’s skiing is over for now.
Another scenario: you collide with another skier on the piste. Torn trousers or damage to your skis are the annoying result. In the worst case, someone is injured. Then you or other skiers may need medical attention. You face the prospect of costs for transport, treatment and compensation.
Sometimes things just go wrong. A ski breaks, a pole gets stuck in the lift, or you leave your ski goggles next to the tiled stove and they’ve melted. You can and should insure yourself against all these eventualities before your ski holiday.
Insurance at a glance
Of course, the above-mentioned cases do not frequently happen, but accidents can happen at any time. And regardless of what your skiing ability is, and it is precisely in this case that it is important to be well insured.
Because if you haven’t taken good precautions, in the worst-case scenario you will not only be faced with a ruined holiday, but also with high costs. A solid insurance package for the ski holiday therefore makes perfect sense. But which policies are really necessary? That can’t be answered for everyone right away, but insurance is always useful when it can get expensive in an accident situation or your health is otherwise at risk. The most important ski insurance policies are, therefore:
- a (foreign) health insurance
- liability insurance
- insurance against equipment damage
- trip cancellation insurance
- if necessary, trip interruption insurance
The fine print matters
Before deciding which insurance makes sense in an individual case, you should check your insurance policies. Most people already have liability insurance or health insurance. But this does not automatically mean that you are covered for every eventuality on a ski holiday.
- It is therefore critical to always check the small print:
- What exactly does your insurance really cover and how much?
- Is there an excess?
- Does the coverage also apply abroad?
- What about outside the European Union?
- Sometimes policies explicitly exclude certain “risk sports”. This can include winter sports such as skiing or snowboarding.
If an insurance policy does not cover the damage in the event of a skiing accident, it makes sense to take out additional insurance.
Check your health insurance for coverage abroad
It is essential to check your existing health insurance carefully: Although the statutory insurances also pay for accidents in other European countries, they only pay for the costs that would also be incurred in Germany – you have to pay for most of the rest yourself. It can be even pricier in non-European countries. Most health insurances do not cover these countries. Especially in popular skiing countries such as Canada or the USA, the costs for a simple treatment can quickly skyrocket if you are not well insured.
For most skiers, travel health insurance is therefore worthwhile. Even if no accident happens, skiing is much more relaxed knowing that you are covered in case of an emergency.
Protection from high costs: Liability insurance
But you don’t always injure yourself in an accident. Of course, no one intentionally causes damage to other skiers, but occasionally a little carelessness is enough to injure another winter sports enthusiast. What happens then?
Theoretically, liability insurance will cover you in such cases. But here, too, it is advisable to check your policy carefully. Are skiing accidents also covered? What about accidents in non-European countries?
Because with equipment damage, possible rescue and (long-term) treatment costs for the injured person or even compensation for pain and suffering, a minor accident can quickly become expensive without the right coverage.
Protecting expensive gear: Equipment insurance
Unexpected costs can arise not only for injuries, but also for equipment. From skis and poles to helmets, ski boots or ski goggles – the costs can quickly add up in the event of equipment damage.
Of course, there are general policies against equipment damage that take effect in this case. But not everyone has such insurance for everyday use. In fact, there are also special policies for ski equipment that can be very useful – especially for ski holidays with the family – and save a lot of money and hassle in the event of damage or theft.
To solve the theft of skis and boards more effectively, the crime prevention department of the Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office has developed a simple and inexpensive measure: the secure lift pass. It looks like a normal lift pass, but it is not suitable for riding the lifts; it merely looks like a real lift pass. The special feature of the card is that it contains practical tips on how to prevent theft as well as space to enter the individual characteristics of the winter sports equipment such as serial number, make and colour. This helps when filing a report and makes it much easier for the police to find a stolen ski.
For all eventualities before the trip: Trip cancellation insurance
Especially if you are going on holiday with your family or a group, you can also benefit from trip cancellation insurance. The more people travelling together, the more can happen beforehand. Someone can get sick or injured beforehand, so you have to cancel your winter holiday at the last minute. This means that, in the worst case, you have to pay not only the cancellation fees, but the entire travel costs. With travel costs, accommodation costs and lift passes, this can quickly add up without trip cancellation insurance.
For all eventualities during the trip: Trip interruption insurance
Trip interruption insurance even protects ski holidaymakers if they have already started their trip and suddenly have to cancel it. So even then you are not left with the travel costs. If you have to break off the trip prematurely, all costs incurred as a result are covered, for example for means of transport such as already booked flight or train tickets and accommodation. In case of doubt, this can amount to a large sum.
For freeriders: Rescue insurance
The number of skiing accidents and avalanche accidents in most of the world’s ski resorts is fortunately at an all-time low.
Nevertheless, rescue insurance may be a sensible insurance for ski holidays, especially for freeriders who like to ski off-piste. After all, should a rescue operation actually have to be carried out, these can quickly become expensive.
These policies are included in many ski insurance packages and can thus offer useful additional protection.
Which is better, individual policies or the all-round carefree package?
It depends on the individual case. If you already have good individual policies that even cover skiing accidents, you may only need specific policies for your winter holiday.
However, if you find that your existing cover is incomplete, does not cover certain situations at all, or does not provide cover for holidays abroad, you should definitely consider taking out ski insurance.
Both the German Ski Association and the German Alpine Club offer suitable insurance packages for ski holidays. Alternatively, it is also possible to take out a comprehensive package covering all eventualities directly when booking your ski holiday. These are often affordable and do indeed offer all-round cover, specifically for winter holidays.
This means winter sports enthusiasts don’t have to worry about potential costs and can simply enjoy their ski holiday.
SnowTrex offers its German customers a comprehensive package, covering all their travel needs with the right insurance. This includes travel health insurance, trip cancellation insurance, as well as coverage for cancellation costs and lost luggage. For these customers, an affordable ski and snowboard insurance is also recommended.
With this protection, the ski holiday can be enjoyed worry-free!
FAQ’s on ski insurance
Does everyone necessarily need ski insurance?
That depends on the individual case. Some have excellent policies that also protect against accidents on ski holidays. But this is by no means true for all insurances. Some policies may have gaps or do not cover accidents abroad. Therefore, check your policies thoroughly and, if in doubt, take out a ski insurance policy.
Which policies really make sense?
Insurance is always worthwhile if an accident or damage can be costly. On a ski holiday, travel health insurance, insurance against equipment damage and liability insurance are therefore recommended.
Do I need rescue insurance?
Helicopter operations in ski accidents are rare, but when they are necessary, it can be expensive. In particular, skiers who enjoy off-piste skiing should consider rescue insurance. Often these insurances are also included in ski insurance packages.
Who needs trip cancellation insurance?
Unexpected things often happen – and so it can always happen that you have to cancel your holiday plans at the last minute due to illness or an unexpected incident. Especially if you are going on a ski holiday with a large group or family, you can benefit from trip cancellation insurance. Because when many people travel together, a lot can happen. Trip cancellation insurance and, if necessary, trip interruption insurance can protect you from high costs in such cases.
