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Sports travel insurance

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What is sports travel insurance? 

Sports travel insurance is designed to cover activities that aren't normally included on travel insurance policies. This is usually because insurers consider them too high-risk to cover as standard.

Sports travel insurance typically covers medical bills if you're injured while participating in certain sports, and loss or theft of your gear or equipment. It can also cover things like search and rescue if you get lost, and your fees if you can no longer participate.

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To get started, we'll need some important information from you, like your age and any medical conditions you have.

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We'll compare your details with our panel of travel insurers and show you a list of policies that suit your needs.

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Choose a policy

Simply compare the policy details and prices we show you and choose the one that best fits you and your trip.

What does sports travel insurance cover?

It's always important to check your policy documents to fully understand your cover levels. But, let's take a look at what you can usually expect from travel insurance:

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Typically included:

  • Medical cover: Your travel insurance should cover the cost of emergency medical treatment.
  • Repatriation cover: This covers the cost of transporting you home following an emergency.
  • Baggage and equipment cover: Travel insurance typically covers your luggage and equipment. Just check the single-item and total cover limits, especially if you’re travelling with expensive gear.
  • Personal liability: If you accidentally injure another person or damage any property and they take legal action against you, travel insurance can cover your legal fees.
  • Cancellation or curtailment cover: If you can't travel for an insured reason, travel insurance can cover the costs of your trip.
  • Personal injury cover: You or your family should get a lump sum in the event of a permanent disability or death.
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Common exclusions:

  • Sports and activities not disclosed: Each insurer sets out which sports and activities are excluded from the policy.
  • Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions: You have to tell your insurer of any pre-existing medical conditions you may have. If you don't, and you need treatment, you could void your insurance.
  • Travelling against FCDO advice: If the FCDO advises against travel to your destination, and you ignore the advice, you won't be covered.
  • Incidents relating to drug or alcohol use: If something happens while you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your insurance won't cover you.

 

What activities are covered by sports travel insurance?

That depends on your provider, so it's important to check your policy documents. But, here are some of the sports that might be covered:

  • Cycling
  • Trekking and hiking
  • Rock climbing
  • Scuba diving
  • Surfing
  • Mountain biking
  • Sailing

Is my equipment covered by sports travel insurance?

Typically, yes - but, you should check your policy documents to understand your cover levels. Ideally, your policy will offer enough cover for any gear or equipment you're taking.

It's also important to check whether your policy offers a single-item limit or an overall limit for your equipment.

A single-item limit is what each item is covered for. For example, your policy might have a single-item limit of £500. This means that you can claim up to a maximum of £500 per item. An overall limit is how much you can claim in total for your equipment. For example, you might have an overall equipment limit of £3,000.

What our travel insurance expert says

"It's always worth checking your policy documents to make sure all the activities you're planning are covered. Take a copy with you on holiday too, so you can easily check your cover while you're away."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert
Travel insurance expert Confused.com logo

Sports travel insurance for medical conditions

When you get a quote with us, we'll ask you questions about your health. This is to help find policies that provide cover for you.

Medical travel insurance might cost more, and you might find that you have fewer policies to choose from.

If this is the case for you, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) could help. They have a directory of insurers that provide cover to people with serious medical conditions. You can phone them for a quote on 0800 138 7777.

How can I find cheaper sports travel insurance?

There are a few things you can try to get cheap travel insurance:

  • Compare quotes. Comparing quotes is the quickest way to find cheaper insurance. That’s where we can help! Fill out our quote form to compare travel insurance quotes in minutes.
  • Consider joint travel insurance. If you’re travelling with friends or family, it might work out cheaper to buy group travel insurance, rather than individual policies.
  • Compare annual travel insurance. If you’re a frequent traveller, it might work out cheaper to buy annual travel insurance instead of getting a new single-trip policy for each holiday.

Why compare sports travel insurance with Confused.com?

  • Get a free eSIM when you buy! You can claim a free eSIM with up to 2GB of roaming data when you buy travel insurance with Confused.com2.
  • We helped over 250,000 customers get travel insurance last year. Read what they’re saying about us on Reviews.io.
  • We’re 100% independent. That means we’re not owned or affiliated with any insurance company. So, the prices you see are based on the information you give us, not who they’re from.

What are the different types of sports travel insurance?

Frequently asked questions

Are winter sports covered by sports travel insurance?

This depends on your policy. Some cover sports like skiing and snowboarding. But, if you want to take part in any extreme winter sports, you might need specialist winter sports travel insurance. You can include this as a policy add-on when you buy your travel insurance.

Are professional sports covered by sports travel insurance?

Typically, no - standard insurance doesn't usually cover professional sportspeople. Different insurers might define a professional sportsperson differently. Generally though, if you make a certain amount of money from your sport per year, you're considered a professional.

If you're a professional, you might need specialist insurance.

Are there age restrictions on sports travel insurance?

It's common to see upper age limits of around 75 on sports travel insurance. But, some insurers might offer cover for older people. Comparing policies is the easiest way to see if there's a policy that'll cover you.

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