 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, some general Q's re Carre Neige insurance. We already have half price lift passes booked through our trip provider, can we buy the Carre Neige insurance separately, ie doesn't have to be purchased with a lift pass?
So far as I could see there's no way to purchase online? So I guess a trip to the lift pass office once in resort? We're in Les Menuires should that be relevant at all
Is there a load of paperwork involved as there often is with insurance or do they make the assumption that if you're fit enough to ski in the first place, you're fit enough for them to insure.
My wife has recently had an arthroscopy on her knee, we're skiing at the end of Jan, does this sort of thing need to be declared?
TIA for any assistance
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Buy at the lift pass office. No problems, no questions, just pay the money. People who buy WITH the lift pass have it indicated on the pass - so make sure you keep the receipt with the pass.
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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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@Russbost, you don't need to declare for carre neighbours, just your own 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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Do you have general travel insurance which covers winter sports? Carre Neige doesn't have the same coverage, by a long way.
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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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Carre Neige is the daily insurance. Carte Neige is for the season. I've just bought mine for the 2nd year running.
There is a way to buy it online, and you don't need to belong to a local club (I don't).*
Visit https://ffs.fr/je-prends-ma-licence/
Also search this forum for carte neige.
* "Vous pouvez au choix sélectionner un autre club (qui aura 6 jours pour valider votre demande), ou bien directement souscrire une Licence Carte Neige Loisir « hors club – skieur indépendant » (qui sera valide instantanément après le paiement)."
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I’ve got a full seasons single trip travel insurance, including winter sports, off piste etc. what does a Carte Neige cover that my insurance won’t?
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@rogg, not much, but for the same reason folk still buy Carre Neige, it's instantly recognised as indicating you're covered for a helicopter flight to hospital. A sort of less quibble "That'll do nicely!" kind of thing.
Sure, most folk with credit cards (and high credit limits) and/or good wintersports insurance have no problem without it, but...
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Haha, so with my credit card limit it’s probably worthwhile………
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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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If you are badly injured you'll be rescued and taken to hospital, and they'll worry about the money afterwards. But if you bust a knee ligament you might be asked to pay up for the local treatment (recovery from the mountain, treatment in local health centre) and they might keep your skis or your nearest and dearest as hostages until you do. You would then need to keep receipts and claim back from your insurance. For the price of a cup of coffee, carte neige is sensible.
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Club Vieux Campeur is cheaper than Carte Neige ...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Having been involved in two mountain accidents, one of which involved helicopter evac, I now always get the Swiss equivalent of Carre Neige. Helicopter evac cost us £100/minute total flight time - that’s from take off, to the accident site, through circling, dropping-off the medic, circling, landing to collect the casualty, transfer to hospital, then back to the airfield. Yes, it was eventually reimbursed by insurance but I could have done without the hassle. Add to that payment for the pisteurs to clear the area, plus paramedics. Having the insurance avoids all this.
Make sure everyone has their GHIC details on them as well. Helicopter evac casualties travel on their own to the hospital - anyone else has to make their own way there and will inevitably arrive a fair time later. So again, this streamlines the admissions process for someone who is probably in pain and stressed. You’ll get treated whatever, but anything that makes life easier will be welcome. Take a photo of the GHIC card as it’s not chipped: all the A&E admin wants are the details on it. Insurers don’t pay the GHIC-covered parts of the treatment anyway, it’s just reclaimed from the UK government.
If you’re in a group, make sure everyone’s insurer contact details are held separately and accessible. The injured will need someone else to contact their insurer asap - the sooner the better. Also consider what’s going to happen if someone injured has to remain to recover after the end of the trip, or need to return home before. Good insurance policies will pay for someone to travel out as a companion. I’ve done this for a family member and the sooner the insurer knows, the easier it is for them to organise flights, car hire or taxis, and accommodation. In my case I did a rather surreal day trip out to the Swiss Alps to pick up a relation with a broken arm, and accompany them back to the UK. The group had driven down and still had more than a week left of the holiday. Breakfast in Sussex, lunch at 4,500ft in the mountains, and a late dinner back home. Surreal.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Fri 31-10-25 8:25; edited 1 time in total
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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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Many thanks for all the info guys, I think that answers everything & some very complete replies!
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It looks like they've re-branded "Carte Neige" as "Carre Niege 4 Season".
https://carreneige.com/en/nos-offres/
Basically it's 3E50 per day for the standard "Carre Niege" insurance, or 49E for the "Carre Niege Season", and it appears to be saying that you should be able to buy either version at virtually any lift pass office in the Savoie. Since most seem to be heading to Tignes first, perhaps this will smooth the way.
https://www.skipass-tignes.com/fr/assurance-carre-neige
If you're doing 14 or more days in the Savoie then the season insurance is cheaper.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Judwin wrote: |
| It looks like they've re-branded "Carte Neige" as "Carre Niege 4 Season". |
Not really. Carte Neige has always been a separate product and is valid throughout France and abroad, Carre Neige is just for Savoie.
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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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@rjs, YeahOkbut...If you follow Crosbies link https://ffs.fr/je-prends-ma-licence/ you get to here : https://monespace.ffs.fr/commander-ma-licence/etapes
Click the "Cest Parti" button, and you get a page with the clickable link at the end "Si vous souhaitez prendre une Licence Carte Neige Loisir "skieur indépendant - hors club", qui sera validée automatiquement dès votre paiement, cliquez-ici"
Click the clicquez-ici hotlink, and you get to a page selling you an individual license for 48E30. Select that, and you get to the assurances bit, with options for 48E50, 28E10 and 16E50. This is in addition to the 48E30 license, so the total cost is at least 64E80, and could be 96E80 depending which level of insurance you opt for.
So is there a way to buy just the Carte Niege without paying for a license from FIS?
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Poster: A snowHead
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If you are considering Carte Neige consider the insurance you get through AAC membership.
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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 subject is always confusing... and some confusing info here.@Crosbie, how have you manged to buy Carte Neige without being in a club please? Do you have a direct link to the webpage. As far as I can see and as per @Judwin's comments (hello mate, hope you're well?) you need to be part of a ski club?
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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 bought one in Les Saisies, some years ago. I was told at the lift pass office that I would have to go to the ski club so I tracked them down and a nice man sold me one. I didn't have to join anything.
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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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@Judwin, I think 'Carte Neige' is the licence, but you can choose the degree of insurance.
I deduce that "Assurance PRIMO +" is the lowest that will be comparable to Carré Neige. It's unlikely to be worth paying more unless you're a French resident with a Carte Vitale.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Crosbie, Yeah, but the insurance is in addition to the 48E30 for the "Licence Loisir Individuelle". You may not be joining a club, but you are buying a License as well as the insurance.
@Boofont, I'm good thanks, see you on the EoSB?
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@Judwin, the 'Carte Neige licence' doesn't join you to a club. You only specify a club if you expect to be engaging in (competitive) activities with that club. And, nearly all clubs require you to be licensed/insured to engage in club activities.
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@Crosbie, Yes, I know it doesn't join a club, but it isn't 'insurance'. It seems to be a pre-requisite to buuying the insurance that you've got the License. If you go all the way to the checkout screen you can attempt to delete the License there, but if you do , it throws you straight back to the initial screen and you have to start all over again.
The Licence does appear to be basically allowing you to enter competetive events, and is similar to joining a club, just a club with no-name. the blurb tranlates as...
"The Carte Neige license allows you to participate in the activities of a club affiliated with the French Ski Federation. It is valid from October 1st of each year to October 14th of the following year. It is mandatory for all those wishing to participate in the activities and community life of FFS clubs."
The Licence is NOT the insurance though. The insurance is another 16E50 to 48E50 on top of the 48E30 fee for the License, and there doesn't appear to be a way to buy just the Insurance.
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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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Does the repatriation cover you if you are a UK resident to get you back to the UK?
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@Judwin, we used to used Carte Neige, and we have variously been members of the ski clubs of the Annecy Post and Telecomm Workers Union, the competition club of Habérè-Poche, Samöens Racing Team and sundry other weird and wonderful things (basically to avoid the race license cost, the clubs all subsidised them).
But a few years back a chum suggested that Club Vieux Campeur insurance was just as good and €60 for a couple.
So we've used that for about 5 years.
As does my brother who lives in the UK ...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| MAthert wrote: |
| Does the repatriation cover you if you are a UK resident to get you back to the UK? |
It is possible to find the legalese documentation covering all the details regarding cover, and how it varies depending upon the licensee, their residency, and the country in which any incident occurs.
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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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| Crosbie wrote: |
| MAthert wrote: |
| Does the repatriation cover you if you are a UK resident to get you back to the UK? |
It is possible to find the legalese documentation covering all the details regarding cover, and how it varies depending upon the licensee, their residency, and the country in which any incident occurs. |
Thanks, I just found the English version. Wording seems a bit ambiguous.
| Quote: |
Excluded 9. Repatriation of residents in geographical Europe (outside France)
beyond the 31st day of staying at
the resort. |
Not sure if this is saying non-residents of France are only covered for the first 31 days, or if it is saying that you are only covered for 31 days at resorts outside of France.
https://ffs.verspieren.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Notice_English_2025-2026.pdf
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@under a new name, Yes, I know there are other alternatives to Carte/Carre Neige (like AAC and CVC). Infact anyone sensible should have UK travel insurance + EHIC/GHIC that covers everything, so to an extent you are double insuring.
However, when skiing in the Alps I see the Carre Neige option as simply a belt and braces option to get you off a French/Savoie mountain should anything untowards happen, no questions asked. For 3E50 a day or 49E a year that seems reasonable value to me. Carte Neige may give you more still, but it looks like it'll cost closer to 100E by the time you've also bought the License.
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You know it makes sense.
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It stands to reason that a policy costing fifty quid for the year is unlikely to provide the same cover as one costing a lot more. The overall limit for everything related to one accident on the season Carré Neige is 50,000 euros. And I didn't see any mention of third party cover.
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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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| Origen wrote: |
| Do you have general travel insurance which covers winter sports? Carre Neige doesn't have the same coverage, by a long way. |
Disagree - looking at my Insurance cover it's very basic, I always buy the CN now as it's small price in overall holiday. When my mum broke her ankle walking on forest trails (they had CN as were using lifts) she was helicoptered down to hospital. She was told that without it, it would have been a stretcher trip to closes piste then blood wagon ride to village.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Judwin wrote: |
@under a new name, Yes, I know there are other alternatives to Carte/Carre Neige (like AAC and CVC). Infact anyone sensible should have UK travel insurance + EHIC/GHIC that covers everything, so to an extent you are double insuring.
However, when skiing in the Alps I see the Carre Neige option as simply a belt and braces option to get you off a French/Savoie mountain should anything untowards happen, no questions asked. For 3E50 a day or 49E a year that seems reasonable value to me. Carte Neige may give you more still, but it looks like it'll cost closer to 100E by the time you've also bought the License. |
A lot of travel insurance doesn't cover you for (a)off-piste without a guide and (b)in avy danger 3-5.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Judwin wrote: |
@Crosbie, Yes, I know it doesn't join a club, but it isn't 'insurance'. It seems to be a pre-requisite to buuying the insurance that you've got the License. If you go all the way to the checkout screen you can attempt to delete the License there, but if you do , it throws you straight back to the initial screen and you have to start all over again.
The Licence does appear to be basically allowing you to enter competetive events, and is similar to joining a club, just a club with no-name. the blurb tranlates as...
"The Carte Neige license allows you to participate in the activities of a club affiliated with the French Ski Federation. It is valid from October 1st of each year to October 14th of the following year. It is mandatory for all those wishing to participate in the activities and community life of FFS clubs."
The Licence is NOT the insurance though. The insurance is another 16E50 to 48E50 on top of the 48E30 fee for the License, and there doesn't appear to be a way to buy just the Insurance. |
If you click through the 'hors club' option and pick an insurance policy you do not end up with a competition licence, that requires joining an FFS club and asking them to register you as a competitor, cost of that is 101E20 for the licence plus the same three insurance options plus a membership charge for the club itself.
I would not get hung up on the idea that you are "joining the FFS", just compare the cover you get with Carre Neige or the Carte Neige licence + insurance and pick which one works best for you. Carre Neige is Savoie only.
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
@Judwin, we used to used Carte Neige, and we have variously been members of the ski clubs of the Annecy Post and Telecomm Workers Union, the competition club of Habérè-Poche, Samöens Racing Team and sundry other weird and wonderful things (basically to avoid the race license cost, the clubs all subsidised them).
But a few years back a chum suggested that Club Vieux Campeur insurance was just as good and €60 for a couple. |
The Club Vieux Campeur policy doesn't seem to cover competitive skiing in any form.
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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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@Origen, As I wrote - All I'm looking for is something to get me off the mountain, no questions asked. The Licence doesn't give me that, infact as far as I can see the License doesn't give me anything I need, except its a pre-requisite to buying the Carte Neige Insurance at an extra 50E.
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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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Surely, isn't the simplest strategy for most people to get the following?
(a) UK GHIC (free) +
(b) regular Travel Insurance with Winter Sports +
(c) the cheap daily mountain insurance sold at the caisse (carre neige in France, 'assurance' in CH etc.)
No doubt there are other ways of covering the same things, and yes, these includes a degree of overlap. But any sane person will have travel insurance, and if they're sensible, get themselves a free GHIC, and can then simply add the local daily insurance for heli-evac etc when their buy their ski pass. Doing this means they're unlikely to be asked to pay anything substantial up-front, and streamlines the recovery and admission process.
The only other factor that always concerns me is the actual degree of cover provided by different travel insurance winter sports policies. I've often been told by people that "Yes, I get free skiing insurance with my {whatever}.", or "My ski insurance only cost me £45", but I would always recommend going through the policy conditions in detail just to be sure that they match your expectations.
Really, the key cover provided by a winter sports policy over and above (a) and (c) is repatriation flights, recovery accommodation costs, and paying for a helper to fly out and accompany you. People fixate on baggage loss and equipment damage or theft cover, but the worst case scenario costs after an accident can be very substantial: I'm thinking accommodation for weeks after discharge before you're fit to travel and having someone come out to help you.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Mon 27-10-25 15:44; edited 6 times in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Judwin, I agree you only need the Carre Neige - and on this page there's no suggestion you also must join a club or buy a licence.
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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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@rjs, I didn't want to do any racing! (Actually that's not strictly true as I was still doing the Inferno, but living in Switzerland so covered domestically).
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@Boofont, I had to test it myself nearly 4 years ago when I blew my ACL just off piste.
Pisteur, "Do you have insurance?"
Me, "Yes, Vieux Campeur"
Him, "That's fine then, we'll give you all the bills, send them to them and they'll sort it out".
Which I understand is what would happen with Carte Neige:- and, I think both are underwritten by EuropAssistance?
Anyway, a chacun, etc.
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FAQ
