International Ski Insurance

[abominable]

Insurance - are you insured or do you only think you are insured.

Are you OFF PISTE?

Many years ago Abominable fell over and was injured while stationary and sober. (Abominable does not drink alcohol because he does not like it).
Abominable was on a piste, but the rescue and medical bill ran into multiple thousands.
When Abominable contacted the insurance companies assistance people, they made certain Abominable was NOT off piste and NOT racing.
They were not interested in Abominable's condition, they were only intersted in "how do we not pay".

Abominable is now retired and about to go on a LONG skiing holiday to Europe.
Abominable will once again become the Abominable Snowman.

Abominable looked at many policies which seemed to exclude off piste and recreational racing.
Abominable thought, search the web for ski insurance.

Two "ski insurance" policies he came across specifically excluded off piste.
Yeah, like someone is going on an international skiing holiday to Europe is not going to want to ski in the deep stuff.

Another did not mention off piste, but when asked, the sales consultant at the insurance sales company said it was excluded.
Abominable asked where this was in the policy.
The consultant spoke to their claims officer and said it was excluded by "intentional exposure to a needless risk or lack of reasonable care".
Yeah like we will give you ski insurance so long as you don't ski, because you might get hurt skiing.

Even one professional ski insurance policy says "the following higher risk activities will not be covered. - Backcountry skiing or ski touring outside the resort boundaries (however off piste sking is covered)".
At last someone who covers off piste.
European ski resorts don't have boundaries, that is a term that only applies North America and their clones like Australia.
But wait they define off piste - "means any skiing within a short distance from marked trails and slopes pistes. A marked trail is where the snow has been compacted into tracks and it is accessible by ski-lift."
Backcountry or Ski Touring "means skiiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes (i.e. marked pistes are not present) where fixed means of ascent are often not present)".
So if a few mates hire a ski guide to take us off piste skiing are we OFF PISTE or are backcountry (yet another American term not used in Europe).
If the fresh snow were visible from the pistes the mates would not have hired the guide to take them off piste.

Define OFF PISTE

[abominable]

Sorry, but I just had to release my frustration about an insurance industry that has no understanding of skiing.

[Vet]

Oh they understand too well to hide

- non-cover of 3rd parties despite 'liability cover $x kerzilllion'. Just in case you think you're safe if you hit a Rolls, there's vague terms like 'unless in .... (several lines later) ... in a mechanically propelled device';
- on/off piste. make sure you injure yourself on green runs :)

[blutek]

Try sending your requirements (for confirmation of coverage) to:
http://global.ihi.com/

They cover BC skiing.

[Taxman]

- on/off piste. make sure you injure yourself on green runs :)


Good thing you didn't fall earlier, you wouldn't have been covered; although we could have always dragged you down to a groomed bit.

[Vet]

I'll pack plastic garbage bags in case we need to do that. :)

[Silverwitch]

So which travel insurance should I get for skiing in Japan?

I am still looking around and they all seem a bit confusing..on piste ..off piste ..what have been used before and been happy and secure with?

[Pollo]

Not sure what they are like as I use another insurer (mainly stay within boundary) however a friend just got his insurance through them and they cover off-piste and racing etc (at a premium of course).
http://www.ski-insurance.com.au/

[budgiesmuggler]

I usually go with AAMI. their policy covers for all skiing, on and off piste, and heli skiing.

the only thing they do not cover for is competitive skiing.

[Mute]

Have bookmarked this thread for getting my insurance in early March. Any other suggestions are appreciated!

[Paul Oberin]

If you pay for most of your trip with a Gold or Platinum credit card you get free travel insurance.

[Pollo]

If you pay for most of your trip with a Gold or Platinum credit card you get free travel insurance.

You're right Paul, however check these policies as with most as to their coverage of skiing or boarding.

[blutek]

Yes you must read every PDS very carefully & ask questions. We use free credit card insurance. It got us out of a bad situation at midnight after we had missed our flight from Narita.

[Paul Oberin]

I am yet to find any insurance company that will cover your skis against theft, they will only cover them while they are locked in a lodge, and then they will try and tell you to claim your loss from the lodge owner, they are not covered while left unattended in a public place, even if locked up, if you loose only one of them in deep powder usually they only give you half what you paid for them as they consider you still have half of the set, so i consider taking out insurance against the loss of skiing equipment a waste of money, I do think it is well worth taking out a good medical cover though, and paying by Gold card covers this fairly well I am told, of course the proof would be when you make a claim and see how they really are then.
Medically I am told most will not pay up if you are off piste or out of bounds, or if you are ski racing even in a fun event that is not serious.

[Xena]

You're right Paul, however check these policies as with most as to their coverage of skiing or boarding.

I have used this free credit card insurance twice now when in Canada - both +1 and I were injured while skiing and they paid up for everything - Drs, chemist, physio, ski days paid for but not used, ski lessons paid for not used, ski days and lessons of children (couldn't ski unsupervised), ski days and lessons of spouse to look after injured person, ski hire not used for all the aforementioned due to not skiing and one lost camera (not related to injury). The insurance company that does the insurance for my platinum visa is Zurich.

[sam]

An Aussie doctor and father of 4, despite being very fit and in his 40's, died in Utah a week ago from a heart attack. Please check your travel insurance policies or credit card policies because you just never know. (RIP Simon).

[sam]

The Mt Buller community, particularly those of us in Utah, were completely shocked and saddened by the news that one of our own, Simon Bernard passed away earlier this week. Simon was holidaying with his family at Deer Valley, when he suffered a heart attack in the morning. Paramedics arrived quickly, but sadly he did not survive the trip to hospital.

Only 42, Simon was a top guy and a much loved family man. He is survived by his wife Julie and his children Maddie, Max and Hugo. Our thoughts are with them all at such a difficult time.

Simon was also one of the 'buller knights', a group that worked to raise funds on behalf of "i ski for tommy" in the 2010 ski season. Simon was a plastic surgeon and said to me that he really had an affinity with isft.

[Polaris]

That's a reality check Sam

RIP

[Pollo]

I am yet to find any insurance company that will cover your skis against theft, they will only cover them while they are locked in a lodge, and then they will try and tell you to claim your loss from the lodge owner, they are not covered while left unattended in a public place, even if locked up, if you loose only one of them in deep powder usually they only give you half what you paid for them as they consider you still have half of the set, so i consider taking out insurance against the loss of skiing equipment a waste of money, I do think it is well worth taking out a good medical cover though, and paying by Gold card covers this fairly well I am told, of course the proof would be when you make a claim and see how they really are then.
Medically I am told most will not pay up if you are off piste or out of bounds, or if you are ski racing even in a fun event that is not serious.

Paul,

had lunch with a mate the other day who went over to tour de france to ride along at the same time as the race. Because of a similar non coverage of his bike he extended his contents insurance to include international coverage away from the home for his bike as sporting equipment. He said it was covered for theft and if it got damaged. Not sure who he was with, however might be an option.