In this part of our learn to ski guide we look at insurance policies.

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. There’s a huge range of policies to choose from though, so how do you choose between them?

First, think about the 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. Starting right around $30, basic insurance policies can be purchased from your insurance broker, your travel agent, and you might be surprised to find this type of insurance offered in the supermarket.

If you’re a more advanced skier, and wish to engage in some off-piste, heli-skiing or cat-skiing, you’ll need to find a policy specific to the activities you wish to do. 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. 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.

To ensure that you are covered with a valid policy of insurance, make sure you buy it before you take your trip. An insurance company will protect its interests by making sure you have documentation that proves you had your insurance in place prior to any accident occurring.

Finally, be informed about your coverage by reading the policy thoroughly, particularly the fine print, to make sure it covers what you need it to cover. 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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