Not even the most veteran of skiers can avoid falling over in the snow. If you’re going to practice this sport, you should protect yourself against the consequences of an accident. This not only applies to your physical integrity, but also to the “economic snowball” effect that a rescue, transfer or rehabilitation can entail.
Basic insurance can turn out to be very expensive
Be careful, because the insurance offered by some ski resorts or even the policy associated with the ski pass do not always cover everything. If you have an accident on the slopes, the ski resort is obliged to rescue you and facilitate your transfer to a health center. But sometimes you could be liable for all the expenses.
Mishaps off the slopes
What would happen if you had an off-piste accident? You may fancy going cross-country skiing within the ski resort… but you should be aware that this is the typical situation in which a “snowball” can hit you if your coverage is limited to the insurance you took out at the ski resort: in most cases you would have to pay the medical care and rescue expenses. And by the way, if you slip over at the door of a ski resort restaurant, you are also considered to be “off piste”.
The key: take out coverage in advance
For all these situations you have the option of choosing a ski insurance policy in advance, which you can adapt to your particular profile as a skier, the destination, or the duration of the trip. This means that not only will you be able to take out coverage for medical assistance or rescue wherever you are, but also for transfers, repatriations, extensions of stay, and all medical actions deriving from the injury.
Skiing is not a cheap sport
Ski insurance will also allow you to get your money back in the event that an accident means you can’t use your ski pass or pre-booked ski lessons, which are not usually cheap. Neither is sports equipment. Hence, many insurance companies offer coverage for the loss or destruction of luggage: if it is lost, stolen or totally or partially damaged during your journey, your insurance will compensate you.
And remember that you, too, could be the cause of an accident to another person. It is essential to have civil liability insurance to cover any damages to third parties.
As you can see, the snowball can get bigger than we think when skiing. Don’t expose yourself to unnecessary risks. Happy skiing!
