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Winter sports travel insurance

Winter sports travel insurance

Enjoy your winter holiday knowing you're covered

Cover includes piste closures, equipment theft and medical treatment
Tailor your cover with policy add-ons
Choose bewteen individual, joint or family policies

*eSIM comes with pre-funded credit and the amount of data received in exchange, will vary based on the specific country you select. Compatible devices only. T&C's apply.

What is winter sports insurance?

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:

Single-trip travel insurance. This insurance type can provide cover for a one-off trip. If you're only planning on going on one trip this year, this type of policy could be the most suitable option.
Annual multi-trip travel insurance. This insurance type can cover multiple holidays over one year. If you plan on going on more than one holiday over the next 12 months, this insurance could be cheaper than buying multiple single-trip policies.

Do I need winter sports travel insurance?

Winter sports insurance isn't a legal requirement, but it's worth considering.

Most snow sports and activities aren't covered by standard travel insurance. For example, snowboarding and skiing. So, to get travel insurance with winter sports cover, you'll need to get a policy add-on.

A winter sports add-on can cover you for the unique problems linked to alpine holidays. For example, accidentally losing your ski pass, or needing mountain rescue.

What our travel insurance expert says

"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.

A winter sports add-on can offer you tailored protection against the unique risks associated with alpine activities. For example, needing mountain rescue if you're injured. Or, reimbursement for lost, stolen, or damaged equipment. With the right policy in place, you can focus on enjoying your winter adventure to the fullest."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

How do I compare winter sports insurance quotes?

Fill out our quote form

First, head over to our quote form page.

To help match you with our best deals, we'll need some information from you.

This includes your name, medical history, and any other travellers you wish to include.

Select winter sports cover

Once you've given us the information we need, you'll need to specify that you want a winter sports add-on.

You'll have the option to do this in the 'Extras' section. Select 'Winter sports cover', and any other additional cover you may want.

Compare quotes

Then, compare prices & policies to find the best winter sports travel insurance for you. Sorted!

Psst. Did you know that if you take out travel insurance through us, you could get an eSIM with up to 2GB of roaming data?*

What's considered a winter sport?

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

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

Skiing is another popular winter sports. Common risks associated with it include collision injuries, bone fractures, and avalanches.

Ice skating

The top risks linked to ice skating include things like concussions, falls, and bone fractures.

Tobogganing

Toboganning is fun, but it's not risk-free. The main risks include collisions and bone fractures.

Sleighing

Sleighing is popular in places like Lapland. Some common risks include overturned sleighs and collisions.

Snowmobiling

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!

What's covered by winter sports travel insurance?

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:

Lost, stolen, or damaged equipment. If your winter sports equipment is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Equipment hire. If your luggage is misplaced or delayed. Usually, most policies offer alternative equipment hire.
Lost or stolen ski pass. If you accidentally lose your ski pass or it has been stolen.
Mountain rescue. If you need to be airlifted to hospital, or returned back to the UK for treatment.
Piste closure. If you experience piste closure for longer than 24 hours.
Personal liability. If you accidentally injure someone else, or damage their property.

What's not typically covered:

Accidents that occur while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If illness, injury, or death occurs as a result of alcohol or drugs.
Not looking after your equipment. If you leave your equipment unattended and it gets stolen, you're unlikely to be covered.
Travelling against official government advice. If the government advises you not to travel to a certain destination, but you go anyway.
Extreme winter sports. Some winter sports might be deemed 'high-risk' and need a specialist policy. For example, mountaineering.
Not using the correct equipment. You could invalidate your insurance policy if you don't wear the right gear.

Can I get winter sports insurance if I have a pre-existing condition?

It's possible to get winter sports travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions. Yay!

But it might cost more, and you might find that you have fewer policies to choose from. Sometimes, insurers won't offer cover to those with more serious health conditions.

If this is the case for you, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) might be able to help. They have a directory of insurers that provide cover to people with serious medical conditions.

How much does winter sports travel insurance cost?

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 £15.43¹.

What affects the price of winter sports insurance?

There's a few different factors that can affect the price of winter sports insurance:

Your age. Insurance providers can consider those above a certain age to be at a higher risk of making a claim. For example, you might find insurance more expensive if you're over 50. If you're over 70, you might have a more limited choice of insurers.

How long your policy is. Generally, the longer your policy is, the more expensive it can be.
Any pre-existing medical conditions you have. You might be considered riskier to insure if you have pre-existing medical conditions. This is because the chances of you needing medical treatment, and needing to make a claim, are higher.
Your destination. Certain destinations can be more expensive than others. This is because medical treatment can be more expensive in different countries. For example, like the USA.

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, July 2024.

Do I need winter sports travel insurance if I have an EHIC or GHIC?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are worth travelling with. They allow you to access emergency healthcare. Usually, it's at the same price as citizens of the European country you're in. So, if treatment is free for citizens of the country you're in, you might not have to pay anything. But, if citizens normally pay for medical care, you'd be expected to cover medical bills for treatment you receive.

But, these cards aren't a replacement for travel insurance. Even with a GHIC, without a winter sports travel insurance policy, you won't get cover for:

Repatriation if you need to be flown back home
The cost of mountain rescue or airlifting
Private emergency treatment

Your GHIC or EHIC also won't provide cover for the various things that can go wrong on a winter sports holiday. For example, damaged, lost, or stolen equipment, or a lost ski pass.

What destinations are covered by winter sports travel insurance?

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:

Europe

European travel insurance covers destinations in Europe. This includes popular destinations for skiers and snowboarders, like Austria and France. And, for those looking for a snowy retreat in Lapland, Finland is also covered by this type of insurance.

Some European policies also cover countries like Turkey and Egypt. Check your policy documents to make sure you're covered.

A standard European travel insurance policy with a winter sports add-on can cost as low as £20.41².

Worldwide (excluding the USA, Canada and the Caribbean)

Feel like travelling further afield? Maybe you want to ski in Dubai, snowboard in Japan, or go sledding in northern Vietnam. If you're planning on travelling to a few of these destinations throughout the year, it might be worth considering worldwide travel insurance. There's two types, and you'll need the kind that excludes the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean. This type of policy is typically cheaper than one that includes the USA, Canada and the Caribbean.

You could get this insurance type with a winter sports add-on for £39.93³.

Worldwide (including the USA, Canada and the Caribbean)

Worldwide travel insurance (including the USA, Canada and the Caribbean) is the second type of worldwide cover available to you. If you want annual insurance to cover places like the USA and Canada, this is the cover you need.

Worldwide travel insurance tends to cost more than other policy types. This is because medical treatment in the destinations it covers tends to cost more.

A worldwide travel insurance policy with a winter sports add-on can cost from £54.22⁴.

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, May 2024.

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, May 2024.

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, May 2024.

When should I buy winter sports insurance?

It's worth considering buying winter sports insurance as soon as you've booked your trip.

That way, you'll be covered if things were to go wrong before the departure date. For example, an unexpected cancellation or delay.

Need more help?

Can I get joint or family winter sports travel insurance?

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:

Family Winter Sports Travel Insurance

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.

Joint Winter Sports Travel Insurance

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!

Are there age restrictions for winter sports insurance?

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.

Do you have any tips for staying safe on a winter sports holiday?

Even though winter sports are exciting, that doesn't mean they're not risk-free.

Here's some ways you can stay safe:

Wear protective equipment. Make sure you're wearing the correct equipment to stay safe.
Understand your limits. Stick to your experience level. Pushing yourself beyond your skill set could result in injury.
Stay drink aware. It's easier to feel the influence of alcohol at higher altitudes. Keep this in mind, and stay within your limit.
Let other people know what you'll be doing. Before you set off on your winter holiday, let friends and family know what you're going to be doing. That way, there's a chance they'll know where you are if something went wrong.

Do I need winter sports insurance for a holiday to Lapland?

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.