 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Sorry if this has been asked before! I am just about to renew my annual travel insurance and have just looked at the days cover for my winter sports option. it has been 17 days and i've tallied up how many days i actually went on winter trips which was 26 out of which i only managed 20 days due to weather and other things. If i had to make a claim how would the insurers know how many days that i had actually been on a 'wintersports' holiday as you don't have to say up front when buying annual policies? I know i could have asked for more days but at the time of buying my policy I thought that I was only doing one ski trip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I imagine that a "winter sports holiday" where you spend a week in the mountains would be counted as 7 days winter sports, regardless of whether you actually clicked into your skis every day. Or had two days off completely and another two where you only skied for hours. Or had a day off but went up in a lift to meet friends for lunch. Several people I know have been injured by falls on icy pavements or wet restaurant floors.
Yes, you could tell lies. And yes, you could well get away with it, but I guess the simplest way for an insurance company to know how many days you've been away would be to go through your passport - now that we get them stamped. Then it might be over to you to prove that some of those days you spent in France were under the bridges of Paris.
If you've "got away with it" up to now, and not had to make a claim, I think what I'd do is heave a sigh of relief and get it right next time. Insurance companies do combine efforts to detect fraud - though no doubt lots get away with it and, in the nature of the business, are paid for by the rest of us!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@eatSleepRideRepeat, it certainly has been asked before, and there are lots of threads that will have info. Insurance is a minefield, make sure you have cover for any planned trips (for the maximum number of days you plan to ski), and the option to extend if you go over those.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I've literally just been on the phone to my insurer as I couldn't see the "maximum ski days" specified on my policy. They confirmed that this particular underwriter do not set a fixed limit, if you take wintersports cover then you are covered.
https://skicover.com/
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
I imagine that a "winter sports holiday" where you spend a week in the mountains would be counted as 7 days winter sports, regardless of whether you actually clicked into your skis every day
|
My insurance is very clear that it's days skiing, not holiday days. The idea that most people are doing a week trip with everyday skiing is probably a very Brit-centric view!
As for how they would know; social media (particularly Strava) and electronic lift pass data.
The likelihood of them actually investigating is a different question.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@boarder2020, as were mine when I asked the question a couple of years ago. Slipping on an icy pavement or wet restaurant floor is not a skiing accident.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do they have the right to request your passport stamps? Until recently we wouldn't have had them at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't know - but they might put the onus on you to prove you'd only been away X days. And they certainly have the right to investigate. Of course, many people will get away with fraud - that's one reason why insurance, especially car insurance, is so expensive. They do collaborate extensively on fraud - I'd not like to get on one of their "suspect" lists.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Thank you all for your replies. This year i did my first pre Christmas trip to Tignes in early December which inadvertently took my total over. I guess it's the nature of the claim and the amount that will influence how much insurers are looking into it. Over the years I have only ever made 2 small claims and i have probably under claimed just because of the faff involved. As I'm doing the PreBB and the BB this year 17 days is going to suffice. I'll probably look for an insurer with more ski days for next years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I asked snowcard years ago....and posted here...the answer was only skiing days count, not travel days. Nationwide includes travel days. Its not explicit, or wasnt with snowcard at the time, you have to ask.
@Origen, 'I imagine that' is not a helpful response
@boarder2020, who is your insurer?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@holidayloverxx, odd, as Nationwide told me otherwise, when I enquired, but it was a couple of years ago under the old policy, I will check again at renewal when we will have to switch to Aviva.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Hells Bells, ooh..report back please. I think I'll ask again
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello nbt,
Are you sure about the no limit on ski days point ?.
I had difficulty in getting cover so just went online to get a quote from “ Ski Cover “. I asked for multi trips, in Europe .
On the page where they give you a price, there is a heading saying something about maximum trip length which is fine, but immediately below that it says “ maximum ski days - 21 days “.
I do hope your right because I have just had to pay circa £700 for my wife and I to get multi trip cover with more than the 21 days skiing . The price is not helped by us both being ancient
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Quote: |
'I imagine that' is not a helpful response
|
It's less unhelpful than a firm response which is wrong. And an assumption that a week's ski package counts as 7 days winter sports is safer than assuming that it counts as 5 days. Probably, as @Hells Bells indicates, it varies from policy to policy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Hello nbt,
Are you sure about the no limit on ski days point ?.
I had difficulty in getting cover so just went online to get a quote from “ Ski Cover “. I asked for multi trips, in Europe .
On the page where they give you a price, there is a heading saying something about maximum trip length which is fine, but immediately below that it says “ maximum ski days - 21 days “.
I do hope your right because I have just had to pay circa £700 for my wife and I to get multi trip cover with more than the 21 days skiing . The price is not helped by us both being ancient
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I am looking at alternative quotes now. Most of which set limits for 'wintersports cover' for 21 days including https://skicover.com/ but at least more than 17 which i previously had with Puffin/AXA.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
If it helps, my employer provides a policy i can buy for about £100 for me, wife and child (eldest was covered but now out of education so not eligible) worldwide and to include winter sports and allows off piste. It says maximum trip length of 21 days but no maximum days in a year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@Nicholas, I saw the same page but called to check and the chap confirmed that as our particular cover is underwritten by Jackson Leigh, the fact that the limit on ski days is not mentioned in the cover document means there is no limit
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Hi nbt,
Great news and thanks for letting me know, that’s quite a result.
Probably too late for me this year but really good to know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@eatSleepRideRepeat, The quick answer is that there isn't a quick answer. Some,mine included, only count days of actual winter sports activity towards the total days, others count a standard 8 day wintersports holiday as the full eight days. Some count the total during the policy year, some the rolling 12 months which is one to watch out for in policies that have renewed and yet others count the total during the calendar year.
On claiming some insurers will ask for your holiday history within the policy period which you will have a legal duty to answer truthfully, should you not there is the potential to have your claim denied and be prosecuted for fraud.
| eatSleepRideRepeat wrote: |
| I am looking at alternative quotes now. Most of which set limits for 'wintersports cover' for 21 days including https://skicover.com/ but at least more than 17 which i previously had with Puffin/AXA. |
Do check any travel policies offered by your Bank. My 31 day wintersports activities policy is with mine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
There's such a lot of wording in most policies. Some will prohibit skiing against local advice which would definitely exclude closed pistes and might exclude any off piste when there's an avalanche warning (which is always, as we know). I had an argument about this before deciding NOT to buy dogtag insurance, which was heavily advertised on SHs at the time. And there are quite a few policies where the wording only makes sense in the N America context. There have been lots of discussions about this on SHs over the years.
For slightly adventurous skiers the local Carré Neige, or whatever, probably makes sense given the low cost. At Christmas my son and family, who now live in France, were all skiing and had no "travel insurance". They all bought Carré Neige, even the 4 year old who had a free "bambin" pass. It's simpler for French-based families to make that decision, obviously.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| nbt wrote: |
| @Nicholas, I saw the same page but called to check and the chap confirmed that as our particular cover is underwritten by Jackson Leigh, the fact that the limit on ski days is not mentioned in the cover document means there is no limit |
Could you let me know which particular policy you have with them please? They seem to have a huge amount of choice available. I'm looking for an alternative to Nationwide if the Aviva policy does not prove suitable when we need to renew our upgrades in March.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Hells Bells, we have "Annual Multi-Trip including Personal Baggage and Money" covering Area 2 - Europe, with Winter sports extension, underwritten by Jackson Lee (I got the spelling wrong earlier). I'd recommend calling on 0330 8805099, they were genuinely really friendly and helpful.
45 days per trip, unlimited ski days within thar, cover includes skiing on-piste and "Skiing Off-piste within the resort boundaries but excluding Terrain Parks". I discussed the latter and the agent said that going through terrain park and perhaps hitting a jump would be ok, it's more about half pipes and getting inverted. That's not going to happen tbf, so it's ok for me. I was originally calling to check that and check some medical questions, and they were really good as I said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@nbt, thank you, I'll call them nearer the time. ATM, any medical issues are covered at a small cost, but I'm told that won't be the case with the Aviva policy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@Hells Bells, interestingly, I put in a couple of minor medical issues when nationwide moved to aviva and got stupid quotes for an upgrade. When our existing upgrade expired the other week I put in the details (slightly different but fundamentally the same) ....covered and nothing to pay
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
I found the Aviva (Nationwide) medical clearance thing to be a complete pain. In the end I asked for specific written acknowledgement that my answering "no" to "do you take any medication to lower your blood pressure" was not inconsistent with my taking several medications which do exactly that. I did tell the lad that I took these meds DESPITE their hypertensive effect but the questionnaire didn't allow for that. My GP actually just reduced my dose of one of those, as he was so concerned about my low (90/60) blood pressure but wanted me to have the other benefits (which I don't begin to understand) of that medication.
As for how trip days are counted, my conservative assumption that a 7 day ski trip knocks 7 days off your winter sports allocation, is the only sensible one to adopt unless you have clear indication to the contrary. So I am unapologetic about that, having been careful not to be categorical. If there are 2 travel days, one day when you're too hungover to get up before the lifts close and 2 days where you quit skiing at lunchtime, maybe that's only 3 days. But check before you make that assumption! It's a bit academic for me, now I no longer ski, but my Nationwide policy, whilst limited to 31 day trips, doesn't seem to make any separate stipulation about how many days "winter sports". So, covers any number of ski trips of up to 31 days. And there's no provision to reduce the cost if you don't ski.
"Hiking" and "fell walking" (whatever that is if it isn't hiking) over 3000m is specifically excluded, as is skiing off piste without a guide. So people who go for a walk up on the Grande Motte at Tignes might be taking a risk, though they'll be OK on skis on piste! Heli skiing is excluded too, and there is no personal liability cover for "ski dooing".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Origen, yes, nationwide does not limit the number of ski trips
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@Origen, what I can say to that is that you won't be 'coded' on your medical record as having hypertension, so if you have a medical incident that needed an insurance claim, the information that you provide to your insurer from your GP won't say that you have it. There will be other licensed indications for the medication you are on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@Hells Bells, just to update I've emailed and they've replied so I have confirmation in writing that there's no maximum ski days. I'm really impressed so far, which isnice after last year's mess with MPI - the ombudsman is not being overly quick so the claim is still not settled, and we're about 1 week short of a full year since it happened
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@nbt, that's dreadful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
the information that you provide to your insurer from your GP
|
there wasn't any
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@nbt, I followed your link to skicover.com and the annual multitrip cover clearly says 21 days for winter sports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@andy1234, that is only for some of the policies , it is the underwriter that matters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Hells Bells wrote: |
| @andy1234, that is only for some of the policies , it is the underwriter that matters. |
although I have just checked again and it clearly does say 21 days. Seem to have maximum age of 64 too. I have however just asked on the live chat and they have another policy available if you need more ski days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
It is only available by phone though on the number given above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Hells Bells, thanks, perhaps next year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
