The Insurance Minefield ~ Chapter 2

DaveMac,
Actually, I think I am the one going 'off-piste' by mentioning 'glacier walking'. I was just rather surprised that they seemed to think this was okay - and it doesn't say anything about needing a guide for this.

Bandit,
It does say that we're insured for 'cross-country skiing' but I didn't mention it because I didn't want Dave to 'shout' at me for wandering off topic again the way I usually do :D

If you want the complete list it says:
Cross-country skiing
Curling
Dog sledding
Downhill skiing
Glacier walking
Heli-skiing
Ice skating
Mogul skiing
Mono skiing
Skiing on or off piste (off-piste only with a qualified guide or instructor)
Snowboarding on or off piste (off-piste only with a qualified guide or instructor)
Snowmobiling (but no personal liability insurance i.e. I think it means they will pay if I injure someone else with my snowmobile but not myself). Just as well I never fancied going in one anyway.
Speed skating
Tobogganing

I hope it does cover snow parks but it doesn't actually say so. I always thought they counted as part of the piste.

This insurance suits me fine, but I can see it would be no good at all for someone who wanted to ski off-piste without a qualified guide or instructor.

Edit
I have found another bit that says:
'The following winter sports are not covered:
Ski-racing, ski-jumping (so no jumping in the snow park!), ice hockey, bobsleighing, the use of skeletons :shock: or luges, freestyle skiing, competitive skiing.'

And, as Bandit says, I can't find anything about them paying for search and rescue, only paying to bring my body back home and funeral expenses!

Plus, there are the usual get out clauses about not paying if I'm drunk or I've taken drugs etc. So, it's just as well I'm tea-total :lol:

Ally

This is an interesting bit of policy omission AllyG. Presumably, the costs of search and rescue are going to be paid by you the Policyholder. Perhaps for France, a Carre (Carte?) Neige would be a sensible top up?

After your accident & medical history, Bandit, I will always buy a carte neige in France.
Hang on, didn't you need the carte neige to get MEDICAL treatment, let alone getting off the mountain?

In danger of topic drift here....Dave Mac, what I needed to get access to Medical treatment was cash and plenty of it. Not cards, cheques, EHIC,or a valid Insurance, Euro cash notes only.
There are some European resorts where it does not matter how good your Insurance Policy is!

I phoned the Post Office this morning, and they say Search and Rescue on the mountain is covered under Section 5 (page 15 if anyone has the booklet) on 'Medical emergency and associated expenses', which says:

'If you are travelling outside the United Kingdom we will pay up to £10,000,000 for any necessary and reasonable expenses caused by your illness, injury or death commencing and occurring during the period of insurance for the following:
a) Expenses you would have to pay, outside the United Kingdom and the country where you normally live, within 12 months of the start of your illness or injury. The expenses must be for medical, surgical and hospital charges, ambulances, nursing homes and nursing.'

There's also b-i about other medical stuff.

So I would guess a rescue helicopter would count as an ambulance, but it's not exactly as clear as I would like.

Ally

AllyG, well done for phoning them. I totally agree that it's not at all clear. A Mountain Rescue team with dogs, searching a slope (for example) could not in any way be confused with an Ambulance. I wonder if they are thinking that it's only Blood Wagon rides they need to be covering?

Anyway, it's a hole that you'd do well to avoid falling into )

Just by way of update. No response as yet to the co. I wrote to last Friday who are underwritten by Fortis, not even an acknowledgement! My insurer is P.O. too so no point me duplicating AllyG's stuff. I'll find another company or two today and try to get a response from them.

Here is another Insurer who offers ski insurance and does not cover Search and Rescue. The good thing here is that they are clear and upfront about their Policy limitations.
The co. is travel dash insurance dot net

My Bold

Ski Insurance Benefits

Air Ambulance?
One of the most frequently asked questions about ski insurance is "Will I be covered if I am injured on the mountain" The answer is quite simply Yes. Provided that your position is known (i.e. you aren't lost - we cant offer search and rescue costs) and you are not skiing in an area against the advice of the resort then our ski and winter sports insurance will cover for the expense of getting you to hospital by what ever means is deemed necessary, and that includes air ambulance.