Rock climbing travel insurance

Do I need rock climbing travel insurance?

It's not a legal requirement in most countries. But travel insurance can protect you financially if things go wrong during your trip. This is particularly important if you're taking part in high-adrenaline sports like rock climbing where the risk of injury is higher. The cost of medical treatment varies depending on where you're travelling, but it can be expensive. For example, if you're heading to the USA to climb at Yosemite, travel insurance is worth considering.

Mountain rescue can also be expensive, but the right travel insurance policy could help cover these costs if necessary.

What doesn't it cover?

There are some common exclusions to look out for on travel insurance:

• Reckless or dangerous behaviour - If you're injured or damage your property while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance. You're also unlikely to be covered if something happens while not following safety procedures.
• Travelling against FCDO advice - If you travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), your travel insurance is unlikely to cover you.
• Undeclared pre-existing conditions - If you fail to declare a medical condition when buying insurance, you won't be covered for any medical treatment you need because of it.
• Professional or competitive rock climbing - Travel insurance will often only cover ameteur rock climbing. Professional or competitive climbing might need specialist insurance.
• Climbing above certain alititudes - Your policy might have altitude limits. If you climb higher than this and become injured or need mountain rescue, your insurance probably won't cover you.

It's important to read your policy documents carefully to fully understand any limits or exclusions.

Can I get rock climbing travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?

You should be able to get the travel insurance you need to go rock climbing even if you do have a pre-existing medical condition. But, it might be more expensive and you might have less choice of insurers.

You'll need to make sure you declare your medical conditions to your insurer when you take out a policy. If you fail to declare a condition, and then need medical treatment for it, any claims you make on your insurance are likely to be rejected.

When you compare insurance with us, we'll show you policies from providers who cover medical conditions. But, if you can't find suitable cover, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has a directory of insurers that cover customers with medical conditions. You can also phone MaPS for free, impartial advice on 0800 138 7777.