We look at getting insured in this installment of our learn to ski guide.

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.

Unanticipated costs during a ski trip can include things like equipment that’s broken or stolen, piste closure, a lost or stolen suitcase, and the biggies like personal liability and repatriation/restoration costs for accidents where you may be at fault.

Therefore, it’s highly advisable to arrange insurance before embarking on your skiing holiday. How can you choose, however, from the tremendous range of polices out there?

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.

More advanced skiers who will be doing off-piste, heli-skiing or cat-skiing will need policies that cover those activities. 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.

The next step is to consider the amount of coverage you will need. A policy may offer different bands of coverage and your activities will fall within one of those bands. A basic policy, for example, can provide you with $250,000 worth of protection, while a premium policy may pay up to $1,000,000 for medical expenses. Also, pay attention to the excess payments required on any claims made; they can be quite substantial on cheaper policies.

To ensure that you are covered with a valid policy of insurance, make sure you buy it before you take your trip. If you have your policy in place before you travel, and suffer a loss that you must claim, it will be easy for you to prove to an adjuster or auditor that you did not try to purchase insurance to claim an accident that has already happened.

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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