Ski travel insurance

Compare ski insurance for winter sports

Get a ski insurance quote from only £6.56*

  • Provides cover for skiing, snowboarding and winter sports

  • Cover includes piste closure, equipment theft, and medical treatment

  • Compare some policies with covid cover

*The cheapest policy including winter sports cover is £6.56 (based on 1 adult aged 31, with no previous medical conditions selecting cover for winter sports and travelling in Europe for up to 3 nights). Prices correct on the 02/11/2022.

Can I get travel insurance that covers COVID-19?

Yes, you can still compare and purchase travel insurance with COVID-19 cover from Confused.com. All of our providers offer emergency medical treatment and repatriation (returning to the UK) for COVID-19 claims.

Many of our providers offer further Covid-19 related cover such as holiday cancellations, accommodation costs and denied boarding. Be sure to check the details of your policy carefully as different providers will offer different policy enhancements.

It's important to note that if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), you won't be covered by any travel insurance policy you buy.

Do I need ski travel insurance?

If you’re going skiing, you should take out ski insurance. Accidents on mountain ski slopes can be very expensive.

Standard travel insurance policies tend not to cover ski-related injuries or the loss, damage or theft of your ski equipment.

Winter sports travel insurance is a must if you’re going on a ski trip and it can usually be added on to a regular travel insurance policy.

What does ski travel insurance cover?

Ski insurance usually covers everything that a regular travel insurance policy does, but it also has extra cover designed to insure you on the slopes.

This includes:

  • Medical treatment
  • Ski pass cover
  • Hospital transportation and repatriation
  • Cancellations
  • Baggage and personal possessions
  • Piste closures cover
  • Off-piste cover
  • Loss, theft or damage of your own or hire equipment
  • Adventurous skiing

Medical treatment if you’re injured while skiing or snowboarding on the slopes

Ski pass cover should you lose it

Hospital transportation and repatriation if you injure yourself or become seriously ill while skiing and need to be transported to a local hospital, or brought home to the UK

Cancellations if you’re forced to cut your holiday short or cancel due to extreme weather conditions

Baggage and personal possessions such as your documents, money and electronic gadgets could be covered against loss, theft or damage

Piste closures cover means that you may be compensated if the slope is closed due to lack of snow or bad weather conditions. Some insurers offer it but check the small print before buying to be sure

Off-piste cover that may require you to be accompanied by a qualified guide. It’s best to check your policy details if you want this cover

Loss, theft or damage of your winter sports equipment, including hire equipment

Adventurous skiing can be covered but it depends on your insurer. You’ll need to check your policy details to be clear on what type of skiing is covered.

What isn't covered by ski travel insurance?

Some types of skiing might not be covered by your ski insurance.

These include:

  • Competitive skiing
  • Freestyle skiing
  • Heli-skiing
  • Ski stunting
  • Acrobatic skiing

If you’re going to be doing something a bit more daring than average on your skiing holiday, you might need to take out extreme sports travel cover rather than regular winter sports travel insurance.

Ski insurance claims may be refused by some insurers if you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs when an accident/incident occurred.

And leaving your ski equipment unattended may mean that claims under your ski holiday insurance for loss, damage or theft are refused.

Insurers may also specify that you must wear protective equipment like helmets or goggles while skiing.

If you’re unsure about what’s covered, you should check your ski travel insurance policy wording or contact the insurer before you buy.

How much does ski travel insurance cost?

The price of your ski insurance policy depends on a few things:

  • How long and how often you go skiing, if you‘re planning on skiing a few times a year it might be cheaper to take out an annual ski travel insurance policy rather than separate ones for each trip.

  • Your age is used by insurers when considering ski insurance prices. On average the older you are, the higher the risk there is of you making a claim for medical costs.

  • Where you’re going skiing is also important. Travel insurance for Skiing in places like Canada and the USA will generally cost more. This is because medical costs and the cost of returning home are considerably higher in these countries.

Here are a few average ski insurance policy prices for popular skiing destinations around the world:

Destination Average price for a 1 week policy1
Austria
£34.31
Canada
£70.09
Switzerland
£27.79
France
£29.21
Iceland
£31.76
Italy
£30.55
Norway
£32.89
USA
£65.57
Bulgaria
£31.79
Andorra
£29.99

1. Confused.com travel insurance data May 2022 – November 2022

When should I buy ski travel insurance?

As with any travel insurance policy, it's a good idea to buy ski insurance as soon as you've booked your trip.

This will ensure that if disaster strikes and you're forced to cancel your ski trip before you go, you should be able to claim for cancellation on your insurance.

Compare ski travel insurance quotes

Can I get a ski insurance quote if I have a serious, pre-existing medical condition?

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you could still get ski travel insurance. Simply select your condition(s) on our quote form.

Your travel insurance for skiing is likely to be more expensive as the pre-existing condition means you are more likely to make a claim for medical treatment, while you're away.

Some insurers may not offer you winter sports travel insurance if you have a serious medical condition, especially if you’re undergoing treatment or waiting for an operation.

You should always tell the truth about your medical history when you get a ski insurance quote, as otherwise you could find your cover isn’t valid.

What else should I consider when buying winter sports travel insurance?

Make sure you read the policy terms and conditions before you buy travel insurance for winter sports like skiing or snowboarding. In particular, check any ski insurance excess and exclusions so you know what you’re covered for.

You must declare any pre-existing medical conditions for you or anyone that you’re travelling with. Pre-existing medical conditions, like asthma or diabetes, must be included when you buy ski insurance to ensure you’re covered if the worst happens.

Research your ski destination prior to travelling, check weather reports and visit GOV.UK’s FCO website for local travel advice.

If you need to make a claim on your winter sports travel insurance you should contact your insurer within 24 hours of an incident. For example if your skiing equipment gets damaged or if you’re hospitalised.

Drinking while on the slopes is not recommended as you may not be able to claim for drink and drug related incidents on your ski insurance. As a result, you might have a very hefty medical bill if you’re injured under the influence. GOV.UK cover this in their article on 'preparing for winter sports abroad'.

How do I get a ski travel insurance quote?

Getting a ski travel insurance quote for your holiday is easy and should only take 2 minutes. Follow these simple steps:

  • Fill in some personal details and select what type of policy you want - single-trip, annual or business
  • Let us know where you’re travelling and how long you’ll be away
  • Choose what extras you’d like to add to your policy. This is where you can choose the winter sports extra that’ll cover you specifically for skiing.
  • Declare any pre-existing medical conditions you have, to make sure you’re covered for them on your winter sports holiday. If you don’t declare a condition, you won’t be covered.

Compare ski travel insurance quotes

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Will an EHIC or GHIC cover me for skiing in Europe?

As the UK left the EU on 31st December 2020, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will only be valid until it expires. If your EHIC has expired, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can replace it, and it works in much the same way as the EHIC used to.

Both the EHIC and the GHIC will entitle you to state-level medical care in most European countries at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. But they are no replacement for winter sports travel insurance.

If, for example, you had a nasty accident on the slopes, neither an EHIC or GHIC would cover the costs of:

  • Mountain rescue
  • Private treatment
  • Flying you home for treatment in the UK

But a good ski travel insurance policy would cover these costs.

What our travel insurance expert says

An injury could reduce your time on the slopes, but without ski insurance, the medical costs could put a fair dent in your bank balance. Make sure you’ve got the right cover in place before you go skiing to avoid any pricey bills.
Jac Morris Travel & Pet insurance expert signature

Jac Morris

Travel Insurance Product Executive

Need more help?

What is ski travel insurance?

Ski insurance is a specific winter sports policy designed to give you cover for when you’re on the slopes.

It includes all the insurance you’ll need for a regular skiing holiday – equipment cover, ski pass cover, emergency medical treatment and return travel to the UK if you have an accident.

It can be added to a regular travel insurance policy.

Does standard travel insurance cover skiing?

A regular travel insurance policy won’t cover you for skiing or other winter sports. This is because you may need special medical treatment or even repatriation back to the UK if you get injured. To make sure you’re covered, you should add the winter sports extra when you’re getting a quote.

What’s the difference between piste and off-piste?

On-piste is a regular marked route or run, whereas off-piste refers to unsupervised areas which are not marked as an official route in a ski resort - the snow is usually deeper and hasn’t been groomed. This means skiing off-piste is considered more dangerous and may not be covered by all ski travel insurance policies. Always check before you buy, if you want to ski off-piste.

Can I get cover for skiing off-piste?

Yes, some insurers will offer cover for off-piste skiing, but not all insurers do.

Those that do, may require you to have a qualified guide with you at all times when off-piste. If it’s something you’re planning on doing, you should check the details of the policy before you buy to make sure you have the right cover in place for your ski trip.

Does travel insurance cover ski theft?

A good ski travel insurance policy should cover your ski equipment if it's lost or stolen. If your ski equipment stolen you'll likely need to report it to the police.

To be able to claim, it's important you do not leave your skis unattended.

If you haven't selected winter sports cover with your policy, however, you might find that your skis are not covered. This means it's essential to check you have travel insurance for skiing before you buy your policy.

Do I need single trip or annual ski travel insurance?

If you're likely to be ski-ing several times a year, it could work out cheaper to get annual or multi-trip travel insurance, rather than several single policies.

It's not so clear cut if you are going on several holidays over the year, but only need winter sports cover for one of them. In these cases it's worth getting quotes for single and multi-trip policies to see which offers best value for money.

If you’re travelling with your family and are looking for cover as a group, a family travel insurance policy may be something to consider.

Can I get cover for my skiing equipment?

Yes, with a winter sports insurance policy, your ski equipment will be covered against loss, damage and theft. It's important you don't leave your kit unattended though, otherwise your policy might not pay out.

Does winter sports insurance cover mountain rescue?

Yes, mountain rescue should be included in your ski insurance, but only if it's a medical emergency. You can't claim for search and rescue if you go missing and your fellow skiers can't find you.

Do I need specialist ski insurance?

Regular ski insurance should be suitable for most skiers. But if you are ski-ing off-piste without a guide, or taking part in freestyle or competitive ski-ing you may need specialist cover.

If this is a concern, you can contact the insurer to confirm before you buy your policy.

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