 Poster: A snowHead
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Avalanche Poodle, we used to get annual cover including european breakdown from Quoteline direct for just £60 or so. It was cheaper than extending our existing uk cover.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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sah, It was just extending the cover that they offer on their website (to 60 days from 17 skiing per trip). They had to refer it to the underwriter for a price.
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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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Hells Bells, I did look into a lot of that but most have a 90 day single trip max when you get into the small print, as soon as you go over that the price rocket is ignited 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Claude B, Your quote set me thinking. My Snowcard cover needs renewing in January. Like for like quote is £148.50 compared to 136.00 last year so just over 9%. That doesn't sound unreasonable but that cover is for maximum of four weeks and this year I will need more than that.
The same cover but with unlimited trips (max 31 days per trip which is fine for my plans) jumps up to £186 (I should also add this gives some other additional features as well as the time limit but they are not massively important nor required by me anyway)
So I am now thinking, maybe I should be giving a few other brokers a call to check how competitive this is.
As a matter of interest has anyone any experience of claims with MPI? The one thing that really was (is) reassuring with Snowcard was the way they dealt with and paid out on my claim - dont want to jeopardise that feeling for any price 
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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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andyman, I'm wondering the same thing. That's a lot cheaper than my snowcard renewal, but I have found snowcard very good.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Scrumpy, that sounds rather like the kind of muddle I got from Dogtag. |
That's 'cos it is supplied by Dogtag when I think about it !
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I was a little concerned at the circa 10% increase by snowcard. Has anyone called them to see if they will renew for the same rate?
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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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snowxxx, I would definitely review the T&C's. The wording on that type of budget package is normally
Unlimited trips (max duration per trip 30 days)
Winter Sports (max 17 days in total )
So thats to say not 17 days per trip, 17 days in the year.
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Andyman pretty sure 17 days each trip quote below from letter :-
* For Annual Multi Trip policies, cover is for 30 days any one trip (and 17 days any one trip for wintersports, if wintersports
cover has been selected), unless a different duration has been chosen, which will show under the Options section above.
they also do 60 days & 90 days options
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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MPI are just changing underwriters I believe. Cover seems to be the same though. Any previous claims experience may not mean that much though given the change.
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Forgot to mention above deal is for Europe only , so there is a limit to how much skiing most people would do
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You know it makes sense.
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Just bought a policy from MPI brokers. Suits my circumstances better than Snowcard - because with longer trips and needing cover for off-piste without a guide you have to go for the top "extreme adventure" policy. I am not an extreme adventurer. The only off piste skiing I'd be doing without a guide would be very unthreatening and although I need more than 30 day trips, and have to tick "60 days" I won't actually be away as long as 60 days and you can tick an option for "up to 31 days" skiing in any one trip, which will cover me. I spend many days driving, shopping, cooking, looking after kids, sitting with my feet up with a book peering out at terrible weather, etc etc.
Considerably less than half the price of the renewal with Snowcard. No brainer, really, though I have used snowcard off and on over the years a lot, and on the only occasion when I have to claim, they were easy to deal with and helpful. I also have two other experiences of claims on Snowcard, over 20 years, once when we had severe weather damage to our house at home and they flew the OH back, and once when daughter in law damaged her ACL in Les Gets. They were handled very well and I would strongly recommend the company. But a little old lady of 66 really doesn't need to pay for an Extreme Adventure policy which would cover all kinds of gnarly stuff for up to 60 days at a time.
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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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pam w, that's a great summary and now leaves me with a dilemma!
I will of course investigate MPI as the savings do sound tangible but as I do need the Extreme Adventure cover I suspect maybe not as great.
Actually I think I will start by calling Snowcard and seeing if a deal can be done .....
Thanks 
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Poster: A snowHead
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I find Dogtag good.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
I find Dogtag good.
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I gave up on them after 3 or 4 telephone conversations left me as confused as ever about their off-piste cover. They could only talk in N american terms about "inbounds" etc. That was a few years ago; they might now have got their act together and understand that Europe is different. But I was underwhelmed - none of the people I spoke to were skiers so they didn't know what I was getting at and a promised consultation with underwriters didn't elucidate things much at all.
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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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I'm still looking forward to snoWHead ski insurance.
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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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Jesus, my head is hurting....Trying to sort mine and Mrs MA's annual insurance policy, to include off piste. Sick of reading that you are covered off piste and then finding small print that says stuff like:
- With a guide.
- Only within resort boundaries.
- Only in areas deemed safe by resort management.
I've even found one insurer (Direct Travel) that wants an additonal premium to cover the deadly pursuit of glacier skiing  ....
Then....Eureka!! As far as I could see, Telegraph Ski Insurance fits the bill - and at a decent price too:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/10316059/Ski-and-Snowboard-Travel-Insurance.html
The website states quite clearly, unambiguously and unequivocally:
| Quote: |
Off Piste Explained: Many policies either exclude off piste or limit skiing ‘off piste’ to with a guide. It is our view this is impractical as one can ski ‘off piste’ unwittingly and in certain circumstances it is possible to ski on a ‘pisted’ run designated ‘off piste’.
Due to this confusion we provide no such exclusion or limitation in this policy. There is, however, a general requirement, common to all insurance, to behave in a reasonable and sensible manner. |
The front page of the website above also lists ski touring (and heliskiing, though we have none planned) as being covered - so all was looking good. However, I've now seen on this forum that Pam W has referred to top level cover/extreme cover/guides being required for off piste sorties if you go through the broker's website:~/ ....
Am I reading this correctly? if so, I am both perturbed and confused ....
EDIT: Just re-read Pam W's post....Pam: I now assume that you were referring to Snowcard and not to Telegraph cover when you refer to extreme adventure cover being required? If so, I get it now!
Can’t find anything about the maximum number of ski days though - but may contact them in the next week or so before our annual policy expires - as it coincides with our trip to Tignes.
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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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mountainaddict, that's the same wording as snowcard so i guess its theirs.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If you have any concerns about off piste rescue just get the policy and join the AAC as well for £45
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
I find Dogtag good.
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I gave up on them after 3 or 4 telephone conversations left me as confused as ever about their off-piste cover. They could only talk in N american terms about "inbounds" etc. That was a few years ago; they might now have got their act together and understand that Europe is different. But I was underwhelmed - none of the people I spoke to were skiers so they didn't know what I was getting at and a promised consultation with underwriters didn't elucidate things much at all. |
Someone mentions Dogtag and Pam trots out exactly the same post.
How many years ago was this now? Before snowHeads began?
Check Dogtags VERY clear off piste explanation in the FAQ section of their website.
I have had two claims with Dogtag and the payment has been in my bank account with 14 days of submitting the claim.
Another specialist ski insurer took 6 weeks to pay up and then only after I offered to come to their office in Farnborough to collect my cheque!
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mountainaddict,
I followed the link in your post and the website you are directed to is actually MPI brokers. Thought it looked familiar as I had got a quote this pm from MPI brokers. So, in answer to your query re maximum days covered on an annual multi trip policy, there are various options but I think it is maximum 90 days per trip.
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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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Thanks Ioatie!
Re. offpiste rescue & Austrian Alpine Club: I've previously been a member and am planning on re-joining for an Austrian hut to hut ski tour next March.
However, my understanding is that while their insurance covers world wide heli rescue/evacuation, it doesn't cover medical treatment. While this is technically covered by a European Health Insurance Card (for travel in the EU), IIRC fellow Snowhead Bergmeister's missus received a medical bill (which her insurers paid) a year ago after injuring her knee in Austria....
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boredsurfin, the Dogtag website still says you are not likely to be covered if skiing off piste "against local advice", and not covered at all if skiing alone. I was told that if there was any local avalanche warning issued (even a level 1 or 2) you would be skiing against advice. I pointed out that that was really silly, given that there was always some level of risk but my efforts to speak to a skier with European experience came to naught.
You moan about my repeating my experience with Dogtag but you don't produce any counter-evidence. What did they tell you? You reckon you'd be covered if there was an avalanche risk warning of 2?
I am scarcely an off piste skier at all, and I don't ski in an avalanche prone area, but I am much more likely to have a fall which busts a knee ligament off-piste than on, even 30 yards off piste. And I am perfectly likely to be doing that on my own - and the one thing which is very clear on their website is that I would then be skiing without any cover.
Do you have shares in Dogtag?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
this is technically covered by a European Health Insurance Card
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only in state-run facilities and only to the level which locals would be covered. There are some pretty pricey private clinics in ski resorts though IME the cost of private treatment and ambulances in France, at least in straightforward cases, is very reasonable and a lot less than you'd expect to pay in the UK.
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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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mountainaddict, the reason I needed the Snowcard "Extreme Adventure" cover, the most expensive, was because of needing off piste without a guide (I am perfectly likely to bust a knee 30 yards off a blue piste on a gentle gradient) AND my long trip lengths. The snowcard website is pretty clear and you can "mix and match" the elements you want from their cover. It's comparable to the top level of SCGB cover, and the cost is similar. But for my specific needs MPI worked out much cheaper.
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And Dogtag is no use to me anyway because the maximum number of ski days you can have in a year, even with the extra premium, is 31. I get 31 per trip with MPI brokers.
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You know it makes sense.
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Over the past years as we've been out for trips of five to six weeks at a time plus the odd week here and there have gone through various Co's - in the past we've done annual BMC insurance and that was around £450 each !
This year we're out for the season, and back in the Summer I suggested to the other half that we should try and see if there was a local ski touring club in Briancon so we could go out with other like minded people etc
We went down and met with them and transpired that by joining Club Alpin Francais there were various insurance policies available, in much the same way as the Austrian Alpine Club, as well as many other advantages re hut prices and a whole lot more, plus the insurance is Europe wide.
Think for me membership including insurance 97€ and there's an option to take out Comprehensive insurance Worldwide (RC + AP) for 77 € and for my wife 73€
Mind you don't know whether I'm covered from getting taken out by some cock if I'm piste skiing 
I will be double checking when next out!!
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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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mountainaddict, Austria has plenty of state hospitals, it seems to be pretty well provided for if you don't mind giving up the private sector high standards and luxury. I think you still get billed for the bed costs up to 28 days if you are kept in.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
Thanks Ioatie!
Re. offpiste rescue & Austrian Alpine Club: I've previously been a member and am planning on re-joining for an Austrian hut to hut ski tour next March.
However, my understanding is that while their insurance covers world wide heli rescue/evacuation, it doesn't cover medical treatment. While this is technically covered by a European Health Insurance Card (for travel in the EU), IIRC fellow Snowhead Bergmeister's missus received a medical bill (which her insurers paid) a year ago after injuring her knee in Austria.... |
That's not the case anymore, maybe it was in the past? The AAC insurance currently covers up to €10,000 for medical in addition to rescue and repatriation. As discussed on the previous page, this is possibly not enough for prolonged treatment in a private hospital in Europe, and is totally inadequate in N. America. However, as the AAC states, used in Europe in conjunction with an EHIC card and treatment in state hospitals the cover is fine. As with any insurance you need to read the small print and not believe what people say on the forums However, given the rescue cover alone I think it's worth having. I have it in addition to a regular travel policy because the regular travel policy doesn't cover touring; having got that cover I can also worry less about whether the travel policy allow off piste without a guide etc.
If you have an EHIC card you are entitled to the same treatment at the same costs as a local within Europe in state run hospitals; this does not mean free. I know that some countries do charge for some parts of the care (e.g. prescriptions in the UK) so you may have to cough up (or claim on your insurance) even if you get regular state funded treatment.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Weathercam, a French season Carte Neige is a very good buy - about €30 IIRC, last time I bought it. There are 101 complicated threads about exactly what it covers, but can't be beaten for giving you 100% peace of mind on the rescue side of things and a worthwhile adjunct to any insurance policy with weasel words about off piste 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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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I recall a case some years (about 8?) ago where the parents of a lad killed in an avalanche in Tignes were pursued for the cost of rescue, including the helicopters. I don't know where the cut-off lies between mountain rescue (free) and rescue in a resort (paid) but I wouldn't want to be lying 200 metres off the piste with a busted knee, wondering.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pam w, The link in my post before yours refers to those events.
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qwertyuiop7, lots of people here used direct before they changed their small print and now provide too few days skiing each year for many snowheads fanatics who would sell their grannies to the White Slave Trade to get a few more weeks on the slopes.
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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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qwertyuiop7, I used to use them until they started lowering the time you could ski. 17 days per year they cut it to, useless for anyone doing more than two weeks a year
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I only manage 2 weeks and a long weekend so at less than £70 for the 5 of us its fantastic value. (20% Cashback with Quidco)
Obviously covers us for the other summer trips in our camper aswell.
Phil
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FAQ
