Before you strap on your skis or your snowboard and head out to Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Whistler in British Columbia, or over to the French or Swiss Alps for your yearly fix of winter sport exhilaration – beware!
If you are travelling away from home to ski, snowboard, participate in any winter sports or “risky” activities, it is absolutely essential that you have adequate travel insurance for your trip. Insurance can be tricky business: 30 page documents, fine print, exclusions, exceptions, footnotes, add-ons, basic or inclusive packages, and more.
The last thing you want to find out after you break a leg from skiing at Vail in Colorado – is that your travel insurance policy has fine print page 34 that excludes skiing accidents as part of your coverage. You’ll be stuck with thousands of dollars in hospital fees – just because you didn’t read the fine print.
How can you get the best rates for your travel insurance? You could buy it with your travel package, but it could cost you more than necessary. Great websites like www.kanetix.ca help you compare travel insurance quotes and coverage options so that you know you’re getting a good deal.
Here are some things that you need to know if you are hitting the slopes this winter to ski or snowboard:
Lesson #1 – Make sure that your travel insurance includes coverage for winter sports, and especially the one that you will be participating in. Some include only mountain skiing or snowboarding, but not cross-country skiing, search and rescue, tobogganing, skating, snowmobiling, rented or owned equipment, and etc.
Lesson #2 – Research and check around for prices and packages. Be sure to read the fine print and be aware of every single condition, exception, or exclusion that is listed in your policy. Don’t let your policy void because you’re not wearing a helmet or it only lasts 3 days.
Lesson #3 – Since accidents due to skiing and snowboarding can be very dangerous, it’s not a good idea just to opt for the cheapest plan. Get one that is comprehensive enough to cover any emergency medical situation.
Almost all major insurance company has a winter sports package that you can add on to your basic travel insurance package. Alternatively, there are also specialized insurance providers that offer coverage for extreme sports, winter sports, and other high-risk activities. It’s possible that you can also get a group or family discount, if you book all together.
It’s worth your peace of mind to get adequate travel insurance for your skiing and snowboarding holiday, so that you don’t get stuck with ridiculously high hospital fees and everyone stays safe.
