Arranging insurance is the topic for this part of our learn to ski guide.

If you’re one of the third of skiers who don’t take out insurance when you go skiing, you risk being landed with thousands of dollars of medical and rescue bills in the case of any accidents occurring.

Stolen or broken equipment, baggage loss, piste closure, personal liability and repatriation could also leave you out of pocket.

These are all reasons why purchasing an insurance policy for your ski trip makes the best sense. How can you choose, however, from the tremendous range of polices out there?

The first consideration is what kind of skier you are. If you’re a beginner or inexperienced skier, or someone happy to stick to the piste at all times, you’ll find basic policies will suit your requirements, even the cheapest ones. Basic policies start in the range of $30, and should be available through your travel agent, insurance broker, and sometimes even in the supermarket.

Skiers who are more advanced and who will be engaging in heli-skiing, cat-skiing, or off-piste will need a more inclusive policy to cover those things. 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. Within a policy of insurance, there can be different bands of coverage, whether or not your activities change. 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. While a cheaper policy may save you money initially, it is important to check out how much in excess payments on claims made you could be responsible for, as these costs can be significant.

Whichever type of policy and level of coverage you do go for, be sure to buy your insurance in advance of your holiday, or it will be invalid. Auditors always ask for proof of travel, such as air tickets, to guard against people buying insurance after their accident.

Finally, be very wary of the small print involved in ski holiday insurance policies and know exactly what you’re covered for. 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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