 Poster: A snowHead
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Discussion about ski insurance seems to crop up around here this time every year, for obvious reasons, so I thought I'd get the jump on it and have been speaking to some insurers.
Now, some people always go for the cheapest option and aren't too interested in the detail of their policy (or at least not until they're being medi-vac'ed off the mountain) and there's always a big ad. in a newspaper to tell them what to buy so I'm not too interested in the "It's this cheap here" comments.
But, there is possibly scope to put together a package of Winter Sports Cover that suits snowHeads as a whole so, if you're actually prepared to pay for the reassurance of knowing that you're covered properly, what do you look for in a policy?
What are the 'must haves'?
What are the 'nice to haves'?
... and what's your preferred definition of 'Off piste cover'?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 30-11-07 5:23; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Must have - the ability to buy online 5 mins before departure, because you kpet putting off getting it!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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BMC terms always seem pretty comprehensive to me and takes into account fact that actually outdoor activities in the mountains are instrinsically dangerous. Lots of policies out there that either exclude everything or are so vague as to be worthless.
I'd happily give up equipment cover etc or even take a reasonable excess on (up to say £300) if it meant I was bombproof on the serious stuff like helivacs, emergency repatriation, major surgery, intensive care etc.
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Another vote for BMC - British Mountaineering Council
They do special rates for certain Club/Organisation members. I am via Eagle Ski Club.
I would not leave home without it.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sure I'm not alone here, even if in a minority...
Must have cover for non-UK residents whose travel begins/ends outside UK.
Apart from that, I insist that all the 3rd party liability stuff, medical, evacuation etc. is well covered. On the travel side, baggage delay/loss ranks highly for me, since I have had bags go missing (not ski trip though), and in my case the wintersports is an add on to annual worldwide travel insurance. Loss/damage for rental kit is not so important, since it *may* be covered as part of the rental, and if not, the insurance excess will wipe out most of the benefit anyway.
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You probably want race cover as well. I think the BMC policy includes this.
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PS to above.......
One of the reasons that I like BMC is that I can dial their number, speak directly to a human being, who is not only very knowledgeable and courteous, but invariably is a skier, boarder, or climber themselves.
They have great insurance policies. No hidden clauses or ambiguity. If you want to ski for 90 days, you can ski for 90 days. If you are off-piste without a guide and there is not an 'r' in the month you are covered. If you are climbing while backcountry skiing, to get to the juciest bits, you are covered. Pick from a great menu of policies. Brilliant.
As some  's will know, some years ago I used to have the Ski Club policy, but got into a war with them when they wouldn't pay out on a straightforward claim. I won, but wouldn't use them again.
If BMC policies can be made available to snowHeads - great. I pay £158 for a whole years peace of mind and I don't think that's expensive.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Must have:
an annual policy for both of us that covers an unlimited number of trips (those 17 day limits are just useless if you like lots of trips!)
independent travel for the named people on the cover
excellent level of medical cover with repatriation and mountain recovery
unaccompanied off-piste cover (for those days when you get completely lost!)
cover to include trips to holiday home and uk as well as planned holiday
Price is less of a driver than getting the right cover but we still want a good value policy, and a company that you can be reasonably confident won't try to wriggle out of the bill when you get home would be a bonus!
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homphomp, I have 17 day limit with Lloyds. I confirmed with them last week that it means skiing days not trip days, so when I only skied for 3 days out of a 7 day trip to Canada it only counts as 3 days of my ski day limit, so 3 days in Canada, 6 at the EoSB, 5 for PSB and 3 for atomic boot camp is (happily) 17 days.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Mon 15-10-07 13:40; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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No age limits - speaking on behalf of my parents they had no end of trouble getting ski cover this year. They are both fit and well but many companies (including Saga) weren't interested in over 70s skiing
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Must cover for skiing off-piste without a guide, ski equipment left outside a restaurant provided it's locked, annual multi-trip family policy with no limit (or a very large limit) on number or duration of trips. Oh - and less than £100 for the policy 
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Elizabeth B, or even after departure. Many an insurance policy have I bought in the internet caff at the lift base! And it's very frustrating if you want to try out, say, ice-climbing on an impulse, and can't because of the insurance.
My big worry is all the exclusions so my must-have is that it covers you in any eventuality. As BernardC, says - if I'm roped up and climbing, I would want to be covered for that...
on the other hand I imagine that kind of cover would probably not be possible to get in a hurry...
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You know it makes sense.
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Currently have our policy with Direct Travel.
I think we have the Premier policy which has a 17 day maximum per trip but unlimited trips. (Maximum trip 45 days otherwise)and off-piste is included.
Independent travel -YES
Business trips-YES
Kids in education covered up to age 22.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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| homphomp wrote: |
Must have:
an annual policy for both of us that covers an unlimited number of trips (those 17 day limits are just useless if you like lots of trips!)
independent travel for the named people on the cover
excellent level of medical cover with repatriation and mountain recovery
unaccompanied off-piste cover (for those days when you get completely lost!)
cover to include trips to holiday home and uk as well as planned holiday
Price is less of a driver than getting the right cover but we still want a good value policy, and a company that you can be reasonably confident won't try to wriggle out of the bill when you get home would be a bonus! |
Ditto but on a single trip basis
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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firebug,
| Quote: |
on the other hand I imagine that kind of cover would probably not be possible to get in a hurry...
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..... BMC do it ..... 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Just had a look and indeed they do. Thanks BernardC, that IS good. I thought you had to be a member to get their insurance for some reason.
Also, I am pleased to see that I'm covered for wrestling should the mood take me.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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firebug, ... unless rules have changed, you do need to be a BMC member, or a member of an associated Club/Organisation, to obtain their insurance policies. I am a member of Eagle Ski Club , which is a qualifying Club (£18 per year)
As I mentioned, it would also be great if snowHeads became a qualifying associate ....
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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BMC for a family annual..is £700...yikkes inc baggage cover and excluding professional...perhaps best for individual travellers rather than families...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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admin, I like the snowcard set-up.
It has most of the items mentioned above, but is not one-type-fits-all. More like buying a computer from Dell.
There are 4 options for Level of cover: options A-D
And 6 Activity Levels from basic backpacking right up to Expedition - if you are off across Antarctica you may have to pay a little extra
They also cover skis left unattended outside restaurants.
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BernardC, i seem to recall from some of the bumff that the Eagles send out that continuing to be an associate of the BMC was far more complicated that it ought to be!
I agree that the BMC is a great one stop shop solution for serious off-piste/touring skiers. I think you can get to the same place for less by combinations of Carre Neige/Austrian Alpine Club membership and other things but I tend to think that life is too short
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| homphomp, I have 17 day limit with Lloyds. I confirmed with them last week that it means skiing days not trip days, so when I only skied for 3 days out of a 7 day trip to Canada it only counts as 3 days of my ski day limit, so 3 days in Canada, 6 at the EoSB, 5 for PSB and 3 for atomic boot camp is (happily) 17 days. |
True...but 5 holidays x 6 days skiing = 30 days!! Some of us just go away way too often....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Greater than 17 days a year - This has led me to switch from Dogtag to SCGB this time round
Worldwide cover - ie North America
Family option
Off piste without an accredited Mountain Guide cover (ie Side-country) - which most bank add-on policies do not cover
Touring - ie using skins. - which very few seem to cover.
You may struggle to beat £172 for a year for the family which is what SCGB charged this year. And they do seem to have improved their admin and claims handling, so after a few years of avoiding them I have gone back.
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admin, Like Jonpim I value Snowcard's "Pick the components you want" system. The literature is very clear in stating what is covered and what isn't.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| admin wrote: |
| ...........What are the 'must haves'? |
1. Off-piste cover without a guide.
2. Crystal clear regarding 'pre-existing medical condition', with easy-to-contact phone advice on that.
3. Significant 3rd party liability.
4. Easily contacted, approachable emergency service.
5. Cover no problem for an 'over 60'.
| Quote: |
| What are the 'nice to haves'? |
1. Sensible holiday cancellation terms.
2. Connecting transfer/flight allowed for in missed flight - providing reasonsible arrangements have been made in the first place.
I am not too worried personally about lost/damaged kit/baggage - since household insurance already covers - and so any travel claim would result in a split on that, anyway.
Oh, and I agree about the snowcard modular approach - which is why they are my present insurers.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| homphomp wrote: |
| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| homphomp, I have 17 day limit with Lloyds. I confirmed with them last week that it means skiing days not trip days, so when I only skied for 3 days out of a 7 day trip to Canada it only counts as 3 days of my ski day limit, so 3 days in Canada, 6 at the EoSB, 5 for PSB and 3 for atomic boot camp is (happily) 17 days. |
True...but 5 holidays x 6 days skiing = 30 days!! Some of us just go away way too often.... |
OK, I'm jealous. I can upgrade to 30 days for an extra £32.50 per person. at that poitn I think I woudl be shopping around
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You know it makes sense.
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We've got a pretty good policy with Direct Travel - the Annual Multi-Trip Premier policy covers holidays of up to 45 days at a time, with 17 days of skiing per trip (only wish we could use it to its full extent!). It was recommended in The Times (I think - one of the weekend broadsheets anyway) early this year, & was definately better than anything else I'd looked at. Covers off-piste as well, and is very reasonable (especially if you don't need personal baggage cover, which very often comes with house & contents insurance anyway).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Jo225, yes I agree. We have Direct Travel and for about £100 for the two of us it's pretty good, especially taking into account their cover.
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Poster: A snowHead
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boredsurfin, I've used Dogtag for the last couple of years, what is dubious about the off-piste cover parts of the small print? It's a long time (12monthish since last looked)
More general question, does 17 days winter sports cover mean days on snow or holiday days?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| jtr wrote: |
| admin, Like Jonpim I value Snowcard's "Pick the components you want" system. The literature is very clear in stating what is covered and what isn't. |
My vote is for Snowcard, they have allowed us to have a family/couple annual policy with skiing properly covered and with different levels of risk for various family members for the rest of the year. Husband does scary mountain stuff with ropes and altitude while I'm covered for hut to hut and glacier crossing but not the peaks, this worked out cheaper than using the BMC family/couple options but still with good cover.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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My current insurer covers off piste without a guide - but does anyone know of one that covers race training?
cheers
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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stevew,
Pretty sure it means days on snow, so v difficult to prove.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| beanie1 wrote: |
My current insurer covers off piste without a guide - but does anyone know of one that covers race training?
cheers |
Whoever insures Varsity trips includes cover for race training, will have to ask the son if he remembers who it was.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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beanie1, I'm using Snowcard this season.
SSE recommend Click4quote but they restricted race cover to Instructors last season so I didn't renew with them.
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stevew, my 17 days with Lloyds TSb is snow days - I phoned and checked the other day.
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stevew, Off Piste Skiing (within local ski patrol guidelines) Dog Tag (and when phoned to check where very vague.)
Off piste skiing Act reasonably and not ski in closed/avalanche risk area. If not skiing with
guide/instructor, always check are is suitable to skier at your level. Not to
ignore, warning signs/advices. Fogg
I went with Fogg again this year.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Fogg do seem to have the clearest, most user-friendly off piste definition. They've been good the times I've known people use them as well.
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May I just raise one small point  Personally,I have always believed that any UK purchased policy will be of little(ie no)use if you have to be evacted off the mountain(at least in France?)As the rescue services are,essentially,private operators...they want paying!Sure,you may well be able to use your CC(and claim on your return)but that carries the risk of a rejected claim along with hassle when you,or your nearest,least need it.No,I use Carre Neige for the mountain bit,and normal insurance for all the rest.A bit unfair to pay 2 premiums?...maybe,but CN is cheap,effective and,above all,understood by the rescuers.AFAIK,nothing has changed..or does someone know something I don't?
PS-my current insurance is via the Post Office(annual family inc snow cover)My only claim so far was for theft from apartment.Filed with local Gendarmerie,claimed on return,paid without question
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