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Standard travel insurance often excludes skiing and snowboarding. A mountain rescue or helicopter evacuation can cost thousands, and treatment abroad even more. Winter sports cover is inexpensive by comparison — don’t skip it.
This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Always read your policy wording and check what applies in your country.
What good winter sports cover includes
- Medical treatment abroad — high limits (ideally millions, not thousands).
- Mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation — including from the piste.
- Repatriation — getting you home if you’re injured.
- Personal liability — if you injure someone else or damage property (collisions happen).
- Ski equipment — owned and hired, against loss, theft or damage.
- Lift pass, ski school and rental refund if you’re injured and can’t use them.
- Piste closure — compensation if lack of snow closes the lifts.
- Avalanche or bad-weather closure delays.
- Cancellation and curtailment.
Check these details
- Off-piste: many policies cover off-piste only with a qualified guide, or within resort boundaries. Some exclude it completely.
- Helmet clauses: some insurers reduce cover if you weren’t wearing a helmet.
- Alcohol: claims can be refused if you were intoxicated.
- Activities: terrain park, ski touring, heli-skiing, snowmobiling and ski racing may require add-ons.
- Excess (deductible) amounts.
- Pre-existing medical conditions must be declared.
- Age limits.
Public health cards aren’t enough
European health cards (EHIC/GHIC) cover state-provided treatment in EU countries on the same terms as locals, but not mountain rescue, private clinics (common in ski resorts) or repatriation. Use them together with travel insurance, not instead.
Resort insurance
Many resorts offer daily add-on insurance with the lift pass (for example “Carré Neige” in France). It typically covers rescue and evacuation from the slopes, and sometimes lift pass refunds — useful as a supplement, but usually limited compared with a full policy.
Annual or single-trip?
If you travel more than twice a year, an annual multi-trip policy with winter sports cover is often cheaper. Check that it covers the total number of winter sports days you need.
In case of an accident
- Call the ski patrol or the resort emergency number (keep it saved in your phone).
- Contact your insurer’s emergency line as soon as possible.
- Keep all receipts, medical reports and the ski patrol report.
- If you collided with someone, exchange details and get witness contacts.
More in what to do after a fall or injury.
