Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Learn To Ski : Ski Insurance

By Jordan Cadbury

In this part of our learn to ski guide we look at insurance policies.

Accidents happen, and a third of all skiers do not purchase insurance to protect themselves from what could end up being thousands of dollars worth of medical and rescue bills.

Murphy's Law would suggest that what can go wrong, will go wrong, and skiing is no exception; consider issues such as baggage loss, stolen or broken equipment, personal liability in the event of an accident that requires repatriation/restoration, and even things like piste closure that you may not have thought about, all of which can cost you money.

These are all reasons why purchasing an insurance policy for your ski trip makes the best sense. Choosing from the huge range of policies, however, can be tricky.

The first consideration is what kind of skier you are. Even the cheapest policies of insurance can cover those folks who are at a beginning or inexperienced level, and who plan to stick to the piste. Such policy prices start at approximately $30 and can be bought direct from the travel agent you book your holiday with or even from some supermarkets.

Skiers who are more advanced and who will be engaging in heli-skiing, cat-skiing, or off-piste will need a more inclusive policy to cover those things. Premiums can be significantly more expensive in line with the increased risk or danger and you should expect to have to use a specialist insurance provider to be fully covered.

You must also consider how much coverage you need. A policy may offer different bands of coverage and your activities will fall within one of those bands. For example $1,000,000 medical expenses on a premium policy or $250,000 for a basic policy. While a cheaper policy may save you money initially, it is important to check out how much in excess payments on claims made you could be responsible for, as these costs can be significant.

To ensure that you are covered with a valid policy of insurance, make sure you buy it before you take your trip. An insurance company will protect its interests by making sure you have documentation that proves you had your insurance in place prior to any accident occurring.

As with any policy of insurance, read the terms, including the fine print, thoroughly so that you know exactly what you are covered against. The best protection is to thoroughly read the proposed policy and ask questions before agreeing, by your signature, to purchase it.

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