 Poster: A snowHead
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My go to travel insurance company has changed their policy wording so I need to find a new provider.
Anyone have any tips for insurance which covers the following criteria?
Long trip Europe: winter sports 8 weeks for me (offpiste) and 12 for my wife (on piste)
Other: baby with us 3 months old at time of departure
I'm thinking of using my Austrian alpine club (covers me up to 8 weeks) and buying/topping up for my wife to 12 weeks. Admittedly (this doesn't cover kit and is "just a medical/repatriation cover") plus a standard family EU annual travel insurance without or limited winter sports 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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@LittleBullet, snowcard...but check the wording. Email them for a specific number of days cover, j just got 45 days
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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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We always used MPI.
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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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Otherwise be careful on topping up. My bank annual insurance will only cover the first 30 days of winter sports, topping up for subsequent says is challenging as with mainstream policies the insurance period has to start and end in the UK.
Also look at the number of days a standard policy would give you...probably 31 days or something similar per trip.
I ended up upgrading my trip length on my annual policy to 45 days and took out winter sports only with snowcard for 45 days.
Russell Dadson, the owner of Snowcard, is extreme helpful
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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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@holidayloverxx, @telford_mike, thanks both of you. This is really helpful. I'll ping snowcard and mpi I recognise your alias, knew I could call on the trusty SH community.
@holidayloverxx, which bank do you have your annual cover with if you don't mind me asking?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@LittleBullet, Lloyd's gold. It changed from AXA...very good...to Allianz...not so much
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I’ve used Big Cat and MPI in the past, season insurance, never had to make a claim on either so couldn’t tell you which is the best when it comes to the crunch, so to speak.
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Looking for myself currently, with similar requirements...
I have used MPI in the past, LV= too - but the policy wording on both makes me a bit nervous, especially now I've got the taste for off piste.
LV= defines off pisute as within the resort boundaries
| https://lv-travel.co.uk/i/themes/lvtravel/static/LVpolicybooklet_34645-2022.pdf wrote: |
You are covered to ski and snowboard off piste and at a snow park provided you are within the ski area boundaries of a recognised ski resort and following ski patrol guidelines.
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LV='s renewal for me is £107, a new quote is £101
Where as MPI's policy wording states:
| https://bolt.mpibrokers.com/docs/9446-10%20Retail%20ST_AMT.pdf wrote: |
This policy includes skiing and snowboarding ‘off piste’ with or without a guide and ski touring. There is, however, a general requirement, common to all insurance, to behave in a sensible manner
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Their price for me is £151 basically.
Coverwise seems much cheaper (for me, anyway.- £88 (40, no medical issues) - yet doesn't provide as much ski kit cover (and after having my bag go missing on my last trip, I want to ensure I have enough coverage incase this happens again!).
Their policy is quote vaguely worded (aren't they all?  ) - for their Gold cover:
| https://www.coverwise.co.uk/documents/UK/5/nonmed/Gold/6.02/ScheduleWording.pdf wrote: |
Off Piste Skiing and Snow Boarding not against the advice of the local mountain authorities
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I've emailed MPI for further information, along with LV=
Will reply with their reply when I get it..
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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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have a look at Revolut, 90 days winter cover per trip
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| Quote: |
| the policy wording on both makes me a bit nervous, especially now I've got the taste for off piste |
Yep, it's the same old, same old with most wintersports policies ...They really haven't got a clue so just come up with a load of bo11ock5 to effectively exclude what a lot of us would regard as normal off piste - eg off the back, or off the side, of a ski area. And all this on websites boasting 'Policies written by skiers for skiers.' Srangely enough, they will then state that you are covered for ski touring or cat skiing - which would undoubtedly see you in much more remote areas than routine off piste areas.
Some polices even exclude the death-defying activities of glacier skiing and hiking/trekking above 2,000m. (I was really hoping I'd be insured when popping out for morning croissants from my Tignes apartment at 2,100m - best not nip out in my hiking boots eh?  ) Good to see that ostrich riding and elephant riding are both covered though (I kid you not!).
I'm currently trying to find a policy that will definitely cover us for a guided off piste trip to Japan in February. MPI (as mentioned earlier - thanks for that!) could well be a goer  They state:
| Quote: |
| This policy includes skiing and snowboarding ‘off piste’ with or without a guide and ski touring. There is, however, a general requirement, common to all insurance, to behave in a sensible manner. |
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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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| Quote: |
On the cat thing, you're never far from a "cat road", and obviously there's always a route down to it. Hence it's actually pretty easy to evacuate someone from such places.
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I stand corrected (in my moulded, orthopaedic insoles) @phil_w  Not so easy for ski touring evacuations though.
The point that I was (perhaps unsuccessfully) trying to make was that insurers may well cover potentially dangerous off piste stuff by allowing general terms like 'cat skiing' and 'ski touring' on any terrain at all, while going to the nth degree to define 'off piste' as 'only within resort boundaries'....'based on ski patrol advice'.... or (another classic)....'areas shown on the resort piste map.'
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We have a worldwide policy with Snowcard and as others have said, Russell is really helpful. However, you just need to be aware that the (up to 90 days) limit on winter sports applies not just to days on the mountain but days on holiday, so days travelling to and from the mountains and days off (perish the thought) count towards the total “ski days”. You can crank your policy up to cover what you and they regard as the most risky activity and in doing so cover stuff that you might not be planning to do but presents itself to you along your travels.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Ski lots, travel days do not count as ski days with Snowcard...unless its changed since Russell told me that a few years ago. Have you asked him? In fact, I think it's in their FAQs or some such.....although now I'm doubting myself as that might be single trip....
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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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@holidayloverxx, yep. Took the new policy out a month ago and Russell was at pains to point out the issue. I think there has been a change of underwriter. Bear in mind though that my policy is annual and worldwide.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Ski lots, thanks, I was thinking single trip
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I needed insurance for the season (4 months). Used my bank accounts travel insurance for first 30 days and then bought a new policy for the remaining 90 days from A-Plan (Silver level). Includes similar Winter Sports cover (incl off-piste) to BigCat but was over £100 less. No other quote came anywhere near for similar 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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@Davidpem, did A Plan agree to cover you even though you were already away when their cover started?
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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 didn't tell them I was already away - just put a start and end date.
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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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@Davidpem, ah...probably weren't covered then
"In order to make getting a quote as simple as possible, please can you confirm that any traveller intending to be covered by this policy is:
A United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle Man resident and registered with a doctor in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle Man.
Travelling from and returning to the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.
Unaware of any reason why you may have to cancel or cut short your trip.
Not participating in or practicing any professional sports or professional entertainment
By selecting YES, you are confirming that the above statement applies to anyone wishing to travel on this policy.
YesNo
This policy does not cover anyone intending to travel in the following circumstances:
Travelling against medical advice or against any health requirements stipulated by any carrier or public transport provider.
Travelling with the intention of obtaining medical treatment or consultation abroad.
Awaiting test, results, consultations or investigation for any undiagnosed medical condition.
Who is already travelling at the time of purchase (except where renewing an existing Annual Multi Trip policy)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes just realised. Have cancelled the policy.
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| marksymoo wrote: |
Looking for myself currently, with similar requirements...
I have used MPI in the past, LV= too - but the policy wording on both makes me a bit nervous, especially now I've got the taste for off piste.
LV= defines off pisute as within the resort boundaries
| https://lv-travel.co.uk/i/themes/lvtravel/static/LVpolicybooklet_34645-2022.pdf wrote: |
You are covered to ski and snowboard off piste and at a snow park provided you are within the ski area boundaries of a recognised ski resort and following ski patrol guidelines.
|
LV='s renewal for me is £107, a new quote is £101
Where as MPI's policy wording states:
| https://bolt.mpibrokers.com/docs/9446-10%20Retail%20ST_AMT.pdf wrote: |
This policy includes skiing and snowboarding ‘off piste’ with or without a guide and ski touring. There is, however, a general requirement, common to all insurance, to behave in a sensible manner
|
Their price for me is £151 basically.
Coverwise seems much cheaper (for me, anyway.- £88 (40, no medical issues) - yet doesn't provide as much ski kit cover (and after having my bag go missing on my last trip, I want to ensure I have enough coverage incase this happens again!).
Their policy is quote vaguely worded (aren't they all? ) - for their Gold cover:
| https://www.coverwise.co.uk/documents/UK/5/nonmed/Gold/6.02/ScheduleWording.pdf wrote: |
Off Piste Skiing and Snow Boarding not against the advice of the local mountain authorities
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I've emailed MPI for further information, along with LV=
Will reply with their reply when I get it.. |
MPI have replied, basically putting me in my place 
| Quote: |
Dear Chris,
Thanks for your email.
The statement regarding off piste doesn’t define boundaries, as there aren’t any. Not too sure what else we can add, just act responsibly.
If you want to call on the number below, please do.
<person's name removed for privacy>
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The British Mountaineering Council policy covers long trips and all off piste stuff, it's not the cheapest, I paid around £260
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FAQ
