 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Snowheads!
I’d be interested in peoples’ views on this one.
I’ve got an annual travel insurance policy which covers on-piste skiing and off-piste skiing with a qualified guide within the resort area.
Now I’m no big off-pister, but do enjoy leaving the piste by a few metres occasionally for a bit of fun, or even simply to cross between two runs.
Going purely by that insurance definition, that suggests that if you injure yourself in the process then you’re not covered and therefore need specialist (costly) off piste insurance.
Am I taking it too literally?! I guess so long as you’re not too injured you could haul yourself back onto the piste?! 
What would others do?
Many thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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My general impression is that the insurance market has become comodotised and most underwriters are pretty strict and reluctant to pay out.
A friend found it impossible to get the insurance to pay him back for a rescue that occurred on piste when he was knocked out.
I would either get specialist cover or take local rescue insurance which together with EHIC or whatever the successor is called should cover the worst.
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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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| T Bar wrote: |
| A friend found it impossible to get the insurance to pay him back for a rescue that occurred on piste when he was knocked out. |
Which company was that? Cover (including rescue) is included in all winter sports policies I've looked at, so concerning to hear if one failed to pay out.
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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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Think it was Insure and Go
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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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| T Bar wrote: |
| Think it was Insure and Go |
Interesting. I believe it's a condition of their insurance to wear a helmet. Do you happen to know why they didn't pay out? It could be useful for folk to know.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Often worth having a look at ‘carre neige’ or search and rescue insurance at the resort. It’s usually around 3 euros a day and more resorts these days are covering off piste that can be accessed from the regular lifts and pistes. I typically always get it just for peace of mind, its 20 quid for the week so hardly a bother. If I’m injured on a slope I want the procedure to be as hassle free as possible!
Note, it only covers you for rescue off the mountain and to the ambulance.
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It’s VERY concerning that winter sports cover wouldn’t pay the cost of getting you off the mountain if you are on piste! In my opinion that is the main reason I take it out.
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| Dav wrote: |
Often worth having a look at ‘carre neige’ or search and rescue insurance at the resort. It’s usually around 3 euros a day and more resorts these days are covering off piste that can be accessed from the regular lifts and pistes. I typically always get it just for peace of mind, its 20 quid for the week so hardly a bother. If I’m injured on a slope I want the procedure to be as hassle free as possible!
Note, it only covers you for rescue off the mountain and to the ambulance. |
Is this offered at most resorts? Do you buy it online or with lift pass?
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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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| LDP816 wrote: |
| Dav wrote: |
Often worth having a look at ‘carre neige’ or search and rescue insurance at the resort. It’s usually around 3 euros a day and more resorts these days are covering off piste that can be accessed from the regular lifts and pistes. I typically always get it just for peace of mind, its 20 quid for the week so hardly a bother. If I’m injured on a slope I want the procedure to be as hassle free as possible!
Note, it only covers you for rescue off the mountain and to the ambulance. |
Is this offered at most resorts? Do you buy it online or with lift pass? |
It’s definitely been available at all the resorts I’ve ever been to through my life. I first got it when working a season at Les Arcs, I’ve got it everywhere else I’ve been since. You can get it from the lift pass office, you can do that even if you’ve got your lift pass already, they’ll take your pass ID and link it on their system. I guess if you’re buying the pass online direct then you can get insurance addd at the point of sale.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Sun 6-03-22 17:41; edited 1 time in total
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| Dav wrote: |
| LDP816 wrote: |
| Dav wrote: |
Often worth having a look at ‘carre neige’ or search and rescue insurance at the resort. It’s usually around 3 euros a day and more resorts these days are covering off piste that can be accessed from the regular lifts and pistes. I typically always get it just for peace of mind, its 20 quid for the week so hardly a bother. If I’m injured on a slope I want the procedure to be as hassle free as possible!
Note, it only covers you for rescue off the mountain and to the ambulance. |
Is this offered at most resorts? Do you buy it online or with lift pass? |
It’s definitely been available at all the resorts I’ve ever been to through my life. I first got it when working a season at Les Arcs, I’ve got it everywhere else I’ve been since. You have to go to a lift pass office to add it, you can do that even if you’ve got your lift pass already, they’ll link it on their system. |
That’s brilliant, thank you, I think I’m happy to chuck a few euros a day at it to save the hassle of trying and failing to claim on my travel insurance.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| T Bar wrote: |
| Think it was Insure and Go |
Interesting. I believe it's a condition of their insurance to wear a helmet. Do you happen to know why they didn't pay out? It could be useful for folk to know. |
He was wearing a helmet but I don't know why they didn't pay, he ended up paying the rescue himself after several months.
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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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Thanks all - think I’ll just err on the side of caution!
Definitely worth getting a carre neige; it saves an awful lot of hassle to get you off the mountain (but hopefully never need it!!).
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| LDP816 wrote: |
| Dav wrote: |
Often worth having a look at ‘carre neige’ or search and rescue insurance at the resort. It’s usually around 3 euros a day and more resorts these days are covering off piste that can be accessed from the regular lifts and pistes. I typically always get it just for peace of mind, its 20 quid for the week so hardly a bother. If I’m injured on a slope I want the procedure to be as hassle free as possible!
Note, it only covers you for rescue off the mountain and to the ambulance. |
Is this offered at most resorts? Do you buy it online or with lift pass? |
Carré neige is only available at resorts in the Savoie region of France, but lots of other resorts have similar alternatives. The basic product also covers you for the mountain rescue on or off piste (as long as it’s accessible from the lifts) and covers the emergency medical expenses and repatriation if necessary, but only for ski related injuries. Eg if you get ill and need repatriation it won’t cover you. They have more expensive products that include things like illness and cancellation too, but if you have regular travel insurance too, you don’t need that extra from carré neige as well. The key advantage being that the rescue team will check your lift pass, see that you have it and so won’t even bother asking you to pay, whereas with normal travel insurance you often have to pay and then claim it back from the insurer.
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You know it makes sense.
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@zaphod424, at least in some resorts you need to have the Carre Neige receipt and show that.
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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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| T Bar wrote: |
| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| T Bar wrote: |
| Think it was Insure and Go |
Interesting. I believe it's a condition of their insurance to wear a helmet. Do you happen to know why they didn't pay out? It could be useful for folk to know. |
He was wearing a helmet but I don't know why they didn't pay, he ended up paying the rescue himself after several months. |
Interesting. The Insure and Go Budget policy wording includes "Search and rescue costs" in the General Exclusions, with "Search and rescue cost" defined as:
"Costs that are charged to you by a government, regulated authority or private organisation connected with finding and rescuing an individual. This does not include the costs of medical evacuation (by the most appropriate transport) from a medical emergency which is covered under section B (Medical and other expenses)"
It would be interesting to know where they draw the line between "rescue" and "medical evacuation".
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Poster: A snowHead
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I have always taken out the lift pass insurance, as, as one poster above has pointed out, it comes to around twenty quid for a week. If the worst should happen on piste or near a piste, they will get you off. Even by helicopter. Then, with your regular travel insurance with ski element as well, you then have cover for resetting of broken leg/shoulder whatever plus repatriation to U.K. by SEgA or whoever, if required. Then you can go off skiing with relative peace of mind. We also got some of those new EHIc cards this year, called Global Health Insurance card.
We took out a policy with Staysure for our trip which was planned end March 2020 and was quite surprised actually when in the end, they actually paid out for everything.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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