 Poster: A snowHead
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Following an unplanned extension to our annual trip to Austria 2 years ago when I broke my leg, I thought I’d share some of our experiences and tips:
• Remember your EHIC! If you’re a citizen of the European Economic Area (& Switzerland), an EHIC will entitle you to reduced cost or possibly free health care depending on your country’s reciprocal agreement. Even if you’re not carrying the card on you, take a photo of it on your phone so you have the details to hand should you need them! You will be asked for them by just about everyone from ambulance crews to hospital medical teams.
• The snow mobile ‘piste ambulance’ is not a free service and wasn’t covered under EHIC agreements so that was an extra €120 although I was able to claim this on my insurance.
• In Austria (I can’t vouch for other European countries), hospital meals and equipment are not included under the EHIC agreement with the UK so don’t be surprised if you’re given a bill when you’re discharged for your meals and crutches! (6 days board came to €110 and the crutches were about €40 – I was able to claim for this on my insurance).
• Unless you’ve specified it as part of your cover, your insurance won’t necessarily cover any costs incurred by anyone else travelling with you. I was able to claim for a taxi journey to transfer my luggage from our hotel to the hospital and most of my partner’s hotel (room only) and rescheduled flight costs for the duration of my hospital stay – my argument being that, if she hadn’t stayed out with me, I’d have needed a travel escort to get me through the airports and on the flight itself, not to mention a driver to pick up my car from the airport. Contact your insurance in the first instance to ask what they will and won’t cover.
• Don’t forget to contact the airport car park (if you’re using it) and extend your stay to avoid any penalties (you should be able to claim this back as well).
• Despite having a tibial nail and 3 screws following surgery, my leg was only bandaged rather than put in a cast so, before you fly back home, phone your GP / local hospital to see if you can self-referrer to their fracture clinic and book an appointment with your GP for as soon as you get back as well to have any dressings changed and review any meds you’ve been advised to take (pain killers, anti-coagulants etc.).
• Phone your insurer several times a day! My insurance was with one organisation but claims were through the underwriters themselves and we had to phone a third department who dealt with flight bookings etc. Despite having a discharge date, the insurance company were reluctant to actually book a flight until I was physically out of the hospital which would have been fine if I hadn’t needed a whole row of seats (and only on the left side of the plane! AND at the front!).
• Keep your receipts for everything – hospital bills, taxi fares, hotel bills, any additional clothing / toiletries you may need, meals etc.
• Be careful with phone internet charges! I came back with a huge phone bill as the hospital didn’t have WiFi so all my searches for flights, fracture clinics, hotels, taxis etc. took quite a bit of surfing!
While things could be frustrating, the whole experience wasn’t too problematic. I scanned in all of my receipts and put them into a single document with details of what each was for and why I was claiming it then emailed it to the claims department and talked through with them what I’d sent and confirmed next steps and what we could expect to get back. It took a couple of weeks but we got back about 85% of our total claim.
I hope that none of you ever need this but, if you do, I hope some of it is helpful.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Chalkfarmer, some good tips there. Just a few additions from my experience and mistakes:
If your injury is caused by somebody else, do your best to get their insurance details - your insurer will ask you for it when you return. My wife was hit by an off piste skier coming back onto the piste at height in Val Thorens! Also if they were reckless (as in this case) I think there could have been some compensation. 
Whilst your travel insurance should cover you for recovery from the mountain, the blood wagon will expect payment at the bottom/medical room. A friend broke his leg in Val d'Isere on Orange and had to be helicoptored off the mountain. As he could not pay the bill, they held his skis to ransom! As our group were based in Tignes, this meant skiing back to Val d'Isere, paying bill and then skiing back with skis and boots. We now buy Carte Neige as it should reduce the hassle.
Before you go to the airport, make sure you have a letter from the doctor to say you're fit to fly, the airline all insist on this. My wife (again) damaged her cruciate skiing in Puy St Vincent. I stupidly put the doctors letter in the checked in luggage. When the checkin agent asked for the letter, I had to point to the bag as it went onto the baggage belt  We had to pay for another letter from the doctor at Turin airport.
If you are using a TO, get them to do some of the work contacting/faxing the insurance company. I can't thank Snowbizz enough for their support in Puy St Vincent, they contacted our insurer when my wife got off the mountain; met us at the medical room when we got there; translated for the doctor; liased with our insurer to get extra seats on the alternative flight; sent numerous faxes; sorted out my c**k up at Turin airport. My wife also needed extra seats. I can't remember who we flew back with, but the stupid airline allocated seats in different parts of the plane  We had to ask people to move which they kindly did.
Don't be afraid to ask insurer for an ambulance car for when you land back in the UK as you may need extra legroom especially if your car is full.
The good news is my wife still loves her skiing. After an ACL repair and then replacement she loves it even more! 
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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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Chalkfarmer, all good advice (and welcome to SnowHeads  )
In France you can avoid the "piste ambulance" costs by taking out Carte Neige or Carré Neige.
My unplanned hospital stay involved a very comfortable weekend in the Chambery Coronary Care Unit.
I recommend it highly for a chill-out weekend: private room with super view, superb nurses and doctors, excellent food.
Direct Travel only needed one phone-call, and all the rest of hassle dealt with.
Fortunately Chambery has wi-fi. (No respectable hospital should be without it).
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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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@Chalkfarmer, agree with all that if necessary. My accident was not actually on snow but was claimed on my ski insurance. 1 phone call and they settled everything directly with the ambulance and clinic and arranged all transport including the 3 seats and private ambulances. They would have provided an escort but I didn't need 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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Thanks for the information and best wishes to everyone for a good recovery from their various injuries and ailments.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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One important lesson from these stories is to keep in touch with insurers from the outset. If you make your own arrangements without consultation they might well decline to pay. Happened to my brother in law, entirely his own fault, especially as he was staying in my apartment with free calls to the UK.
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When I was hit by an out of control skier I ended up with 5 or 6 weeks in an Austrian hospital. The company employing me had not got any insurance in place apparently (run by a certain Mr. Reynard), but luckily I had really good comprehensive cover with Mondial Assistance. One phone call and everything was taken care of. We had no out of pocket expenses as I remember until I returned to the UK where the follow-up plan was disregarded and everything went downhill rapidly after that. I now have ADAC cover which is just as comprehensive.
Whereas the Austrian surgeons assured me I could start skiing again gently in the following September (accident end of March), the cock-ups caused by the arrogance of the UK consultants resulted in me missing nearly all the following season. I eventually returned tentatively 13 months after the original accident. I have Jon Webb to thank for that as the senior surgeon at the time told me I'd never walk again without a stick. Webby fought my corner and got me back on my feet, despite the senior consultant who led the team he was working with as a SHO
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Apologies if it has been covered elsewhere (most subjects have), what is the difference between 'Carré Neige' and 'Carte Neige'? I think one is a supplement to cover the cost of evacuation from the slopes, but am sure there is more to it than that.
+1 for EHIC card, also it can be useful to have a scan of your passport details in your preferred data store, cloud drive etc. just in case you aren't in the habit of skiing with your passport in your pocket. I was admitted to hospital in France (for pneumonia, not skiing related) and hadn't had my passport with me at the time. I was often asked for my passport number to fill in the many documents beloved of French bureaucracy. I was very well looked after in the hotel once I was admitted, much better than in the UK.
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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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| Samerberg Sue wrote: |
Whereas the Austrian surgeons assured me I could start skiing again gently in the following September (accident end of March), the cock-ups caused by the arrogance of the UK consultants resulted in me missing nearly all the following season. I eventually returned tentatively 13 months after the original accident. I have Jon Webb to thank for that as the senior surgeon at the time told me I'd never walk again without a stick. Webby fought my corner and got me back on my feet, despite the senior consultant who led the team he was working with as a SHO |
When you return to the UK, especially with a knee injury, you have to be careful about which surgeon you select. When my wife 1st damaged her knee the surgeon was not a skier and advised minimal repair and physio. For the next 10 years she skied on a loose knee. When she snapped the ACL after a minor fall, the UK surgeon was a skier and assured her the knee would be better than ever after surgery - he was true to his word! Obviously the Ski~Mojo helps!
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@Steveee, as a bog standard NHS patient I wasn't given any choice. Now I no longer have to worry and my current orthopedic surgeon is one of the best in Germany for knees. His first question when I see him is either when are you skiing next (outside of the ski season) or how is the snow (during the ski season).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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stick a phone charger in your bag too and make sure you have loads of international credit, my 3 days in Moutier were pretty dull with only 2 txts to my name and about 20 mins of battery with no telly or other form of entertainment (except watching it dump down with Pow outside  ) Thank god for Morphine.
I certainly wouldnt recommend Moutier as a place for a short stay though, the doctors and the nurses were ace but the food was beyond bad and the finance manager was an unsympathetic raving lunatic. People bad mouth the NHS but in my experience theyre lightyears ahead of the French hospitals
Ill also say take you E111 card again as it covers 80% of the treatment, I didnt have mine and they were wanting to charge me 4000 euro just for the bed for 3 days, luckily my insurance company were great and sorted it with the NHS who wed phoned independently and they refused to help.
Oh and have a credit card with you too, dont think Id of got past the initial XRay without it.
Most of all, dont hit any fat Frenchmen in the first place
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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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| Samerberg Sue wrote: |
| [b]as a bog standard NHS patient I wasn't given any choice |
Not quite true.
See 2014/15 Choice Framework
Page 4:
Choosing where to go for your first appointment as an outpatient with physical or mental health conditions
What choices do I have?
If you need to see a consultant or specialist as an outpatient for a physical or mental health condition,
you can choose the organisation that provides your NHS care and treatment anywhere in England for
your first outpatient appointment.
You can also choose which consultant-led team or which mental health team led by a named health
care professional will be in charge of your NHS care and treatment (employed by the organisation you
choose) for your first outpatient appointment.
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@Jonpim, it was not in place back then. And with the best will in the world, the so-called Choice options are sadly more of a PR exercise outside of the Home Counties than a reality.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Samerberg Sue wrote: |
| @Jonpim, it was not in place back then. And with the best will in the world, the so-called Choice options are sadly more of a PR exercise outside of the Home Counties than a reality. |
It was not available in the past but it is now and that is what this thread is about. Our local NHS hospital has three orthopaedic surgeons, one of them is very experienced and sympathetic in dealing with skiing injuries as he is a skier himself. His statement to my wife was that it will be better than the good knee when healed! He was right.
If you are in doubt, speak to the GP and get their advice. If they don't know, then get them to find 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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Best thing if you haven't a clue about consultants is to ask a few local health professionals who might give a more frank (and possibly unprintable) opinion than your own GP. Friends, or friends of friends. My SiL goes mountain biking in a group with 2 GPs and a boat builder. Very useful.
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Poster: A snowHead
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My surgery was carried out in Austria at a hospital where about 80% of their winter activity is due to ski injuries so I couldn't have been in better hands.
Back in the UK, I had follow up appointments and physio via the fracture clinic at Kings. I couldn't fault any of the care I received either in Austria or back home with the NHS.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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This is absolutely fantastic advice - the only problem is, it wouldn't have occurred to me to read it before my accident 
I broke my leg (tibia and fibula) a month ago in Tignes, had my EHIC card and good travel insurance (with winter sports cover, duh!). I was in Bourg St Maurice hospital (got a rod in my leg now) for just 2 nights and managed to make the same flight home as my party.
My only confusion was how to get into the NHS "system" when we got back. Via GP or A&E? A swift call to A&E and they were happy for me to come in that way. Temporary plaster, appointment with the fracture clinic/orthopaedics 2 days later and I'm in.
If I'd have read this post first, I would have done some more research as to the best hospital for my condition, but it seems to be going ok at the moment (hopefully cast off in 2 weeks).
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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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@Samerberg Sue, that's just not true. My mum was able to make an excellent choice for the shoulder surgery she had recently. Shorter waiting list, better outcomes and brilliant surgeon.
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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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I fractured my femur two years ago in Val Thorens and was stretchered down to the medical centre, then flown to hospital in Moutiers. X-rayed, operated on and 6 days stay in hospital, then private ambulance to Geneva airport, direct flight to Edinburgh (3 seats to myself on the left side of the plane!), then private ambulance from Edinburgh airport to my home in Glasgow. Total cost to me = €100 for the cost of crutches (very chic French ones in blue!).
I would also urge folks to take out Carte Neige (I had never ever taken this out on any ski holiday except the one where I had my injury, maybe it was meant to happen!). I would also agree about taking your E111 card – this covered 80% of my hospital costs with the insurance company picking up the other 20%. My insurance company (www.insureforall.com) were really really good – they arranged all my repatriation home and financially, I was extremely lucky (see first paragraph) – I also made sure I was covered properly (I have pre-existing medical conditions) – important that others do this too.
When I got home, I contacted my GP, who advised that I go through A&E at my local hospital in order to be seen by Orthopaedics and Physiotherapy (6 months of x-rays by Ortho and 16 months of Physio) - have one leg shorter than the other and a big metal rod in my leg!
I haven’t been back on the slopes though – a wee bit feart to be honest!
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FAQ
