Winter sports insurance is a type of cover tailored to alpine-related problems. This includes things like emergency mountain rescue if you get injured while participating in a winter sport like skiing or snowboarding. Or, unexpected piste closure for more than 24 hours.
It's a policy add-on. So, this means you'll need to add it to your standard travel insurance policy when getting a quote. It's as easy as that! Just remember that it comes at an added cost.
Winter sports insurance can be added to different policies. Here are the main options:
"Whether you're seeking the adrenaline rush of skiing or the enchantment of a sleigh ride through a snowy forest, it's crucial to consider the risks involved. For all snow-related sports and activities, having the right insurance cover is essential if you want to ensure you're protected. This is where winter sports insurance comes in. With the right policy in place, you can focus on enjoying your winter adventure to the fullest."
What's considered to be a winter sport can vary from insurer to insurer. So, it's important to read your policy carefully.
If you're travelling to play sports or do certain high-risk activities, it's worth considering getting the right cover in place. Activities usually covered by a winter sports add-on include:
Snowboarding is one of the most popular types of winter sports. Risks that can happen while snowboarding include collisions with other riders, bone fractures, and head injuries.
Skiing is another popular winter sports. Common risks associated with it include collision injuries, bone fractures, and avalanches.
The top risks linked to ice skating include things like concussions, falls, and bone fractures.
Toboganning is fun, but it's not risk-free. The main risks include collisions and bone fractures.
Sleighing is popular in places like Lapland. Some common risks include overturned sleighs and collisions.
The main risks associated with snowmobiling includes things like head injuries, fractures, and getting stranded.
With the right level of cover, you can make sure you're protected financially for these sorts of risks. Phew!
Winter sports insurance is an optional extra that you can add to your travel insurance policy. Your standard travel policy will generally offer cover for things like medical emergencies and lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. A winter sports add-on can also offer some winter sports-related enhancements. Exactly what's covered depend on the insurance provider and level of cover selected. So, it's important to check the policy terms and conditions before you buy.
Let's take a look at what's typically covered and excluded:
What's typically covered:
What's not typically covered:
The price of winter sports travel insurance can vary. It mainly depends on personal circumstances, as well as the nature of your trip.
But, you could get standard travel insurance with a winter sports add-on for as little as £13.101.
There's a few different factors that can affect the price of winter sports insurance:
1Cheapest single-trip travel insurance policy with winter sports cover added. Based on a 30-year-old travelling for 1 week in France with no pre-existing medical conditions. Based on Confused.com data, January 2025.
Most destinations are covered by winter sports travel insurance. But how you specify your destination when getting a quote depends on what type of travel insurance you get.
If you're getting single-trip winter sports travel insurance, you'll be able to specify the exact country you want to travel to. But, if you want multi-trip winter sports travel insurance, you can choose whether you want European or worldwide cover:
2Cheapest European annual policy with winter sports cover, based on a 30-year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions. Based on Confused.com data, January 2025.
3Cheapest worldwide annual policy excluding the USA, Canada and the Caribbean with winter sports cover, based on a 30-year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions. Based on Confused.com data, January 2025.
4Cheapest worldwide annual policy including the USA, Canada and the Caribbean with winter sports cover, based on a 30-year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions. Based on Confused.com data, January 2025.
Yes, you can. But you'll need to specify whether you'd like a family or joint policy during the quote process. Let's take a closer look at each policy type below:
A family travel insurance policy can cover winter sports activities for you and your family. During the quote process, you'll need to select 'Family' in the quote form. Then, you'll be asked to provide your family member's dates of birth, names and medical history.
A joint travel insurance policy can provide cover two people. To get this kind of policy, you'll need to select 'Couple' in the quote form. Then, you'll need to provide the name, date of birth, and medical history of the additional person.
Helpful hint: Joint or family winter sports policies can be cheaper than multiple individual policies. But, it's always a good idea to compare quotes. That way, you'll make sure you're getting the best deal. Boom!
Possibly, it depends on the insurance provider.
Sometimes, insurers might decide to impose upper age limits for winter sports insurance. Usually, this is for those aged 85 years or older. But it's always best to read the policy wording, because it can vary.
Even though winter sports are exciting, that doesn't mean they're not risk-free.
Here's some ways you can stay safe:
It's not a legal requirement to have. But depending on the nature of your Lapland holiday, it might be worth considering.
Some activities you can do in Lapland might not be covered by standard travel insurance. For example, reindeer- or horse-pulled sleigh rides.
So, this means that you may need to pay extra for a winter sports add-on. When comparing quotes, read policy terms and conditions carefully. That way, you'll know whether you need to get a winter sports add-on or not.
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