Ski holiday travel insurance: what you need to know

Travel insurance for snow and ski holidays: what you need to know

Why should I consider getting travel insurance cover for ski and winter sports?

While travel insurance may provide cover for amateur sports and adventure activities (like kayaking or hot air ballooning conducted through commercial operators) if you're going on a ski holiday you may wish to consider paying for an optional extra to cover recreational skiing, snowmobiling, tobogganing and other winter sports.

The reason to consider this optional extra relates to medical and hospital fees incurred after an incident on the slopes, and such issues as cancellation or lost deposits, equipment hire and lift passes.

It is important that you read and understand what activities are and aren't covered in a travel insurance policy before you travel.

What does ski and winter sports insurance cover?

If you’re looking for travel insurance for a ski holiday and you’re under the age of 85, when you purchase an RACV International Travel Insurance policy, you can select the 'Ski and Winter Sports,' option if you want this cover. This will determine the premium you pay. 

While skiing and winter sports can be covered, specific conditions apply and these are listed in the RACV Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

According to the PDS, the 'Ski and Winter Sports' option^#* covers:

• Snow skiing and snowboarding
• Winter sports: leisure bigfoot skiing, cat skiing, cross country skiing (along a designated cross country ski route only), glacier skiing, ice hockey, ice skating, luging (on ice only), mono skiing, off-piste skiing (with a professional guide only), recreational skiing, snowmobiling and tobogganing. 

#Limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply.

* Click here for 'Ski and Winter Sports' option terms and conditions below

Ski and Winter Sports Overseas Medical and Hospital

This refers to reasonable overseas medical and hospital expenses from an accident that happens while the policy holder is participating in a covered event (such as leisure bigfoot skiing or snowboarding), including associated costs with injury, hospital or emergency overseas dental expenses as outlined in the PDS.

Please note that a RACV Comprehensive Travel Insurance policy is required for any COVID-19 benefits overseas.

Winter sports equipment and lift pass theft, equipment costs

Provides coverage for loss, theft, or damage to your ski or snowboard equipment or lift pass, as well as the cost of hiring alternative skiing equipment following accidental loss, theft of, or damage to your skiing equipment.

The policy may also cover the reimbursement of the snow ski equipment hire insurance excess if you’ve chosen and paid for additional snow ski equipment hire excess cover.

Snow trip cancellation costs

If you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to an unexpected insured event, such as injury or illness, this coverage can reimburse your non-refundable travel expenses, such as pre-booked and pre-paid ski passes, ski hire, lessons, or lift passes.

Piste closure, bad weather and avalanche

If your holiday is affected by bad weather, poor snow coverage, an avalanche or power failure in your pre-booked holiday resort – or if all lift systems are closed for more than 24 hours – you may be covered up to a certain amount for transport to the nearest resort and/or for additional ski passes.

In the case of bad weather and/or avalanche, you may be covered for extra meal, accommodation, and travel expenses that you need to pay if your pre-booked outward or return trip is delayed for more than 12 hours from your scheduled departure time.

How much coverage do I need for ski holiday travel insurance?

The amount of coverage you need depends on various factors, including the cost of your trip, the value of your equipment, and your destination.

When looking into international travel insurance options, here are some points to consider:

• Emergency medical expenses: Consider if your coverage is sufficient to cover potential medical expenses to the country you’re travelling to, including evacuation if necessary.
• Winter sports equipment: Calculate the total value of your ski or snowboard equipment, as well as your lift pass, to understand if you have adequate coverage in case of loss, theft, or damage.
• Snow activities: Double check the snow activities you will be engaging in, and if they are included on your policy. With RACV Travel Insurance, many skiing and snowboarding activities are covered under the add-on ‘Skiing or Winter Sports’ option to your policy, but some are not.
• Total cost: Calculate the value of your trip were an unexpected insured event to occur – flights, accommodation, snow gear, passes and more – to understand the worth of the trip and how much you would be covered for on your policy were it to be affected.

Tips for purchasing ski holiday travel insurance

• Read the fine print: Carefully review the policy details in the PDS to understand what is and isn't covered, as well as any exclusions or limitations.
• Consider purchasing early: Buy your ski holiday travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, so you're covered for any unforeseen circumstances leading up to your departure.
• Keep your policy information handy: Keep your policy documents somewhere safe and easy to access in the case you need to make contact or make a claim.

How to make a ski holiday travel insurance claim

In the event you need to make a claim for your ski and winter sports policy, follow these steps:

• Gather documentation: Collect all necessary supporting documentation, including receipts, medical reports, correspondence, and proof of ownership of any items that you may be claiming on your policy.
• Contact your insurer: Notify your insurance provider as soon as possible by making a claim. Be sure to provide all required documentation and as much detail as possible to expedite the insurance process.
• Submit your claim: You can make a claim online with RACV Travel Insurance 24/7 here or call 1300 207 387.

^{The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Ltd AR 001243563 is an authorised representative of the issuer and receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. RACV Travel Insurance issued by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548. Terms & conditions apply, refer to the PDS.}

^{#Limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply.}

^{* Ski and Winter Sports Option. When you purchase your policy, you will need to select the Ski and Winter Sports option if you want this cover. This will determine the premium you pay. The Ski and Winter Sports option is only available to you if you are aged 85 years or less at the time you purchase your policy. IMPORTANT: You must purchase the Ski and Winter Sports option in order to be covered for Overseas Medical and Hospital expenses that are incurred following an accident that takes place whilst participating in Skiing or a Winter Sport. Not all Winter Sports are covered and these are explained on pages 8-9 of the PDS. This option covers: leisure bigfoot skiing, cat skiing, cross country skiing (along a designated cross country ski route only), glacier skiing, ice hockey, ice skating, luging (on ice only), and mono skiing, off-piste skiing (with a professional guide only), recreational ski racing, and recreational skiing, snowmobiling and tobogganing. In all cases “Skiing” also means snowboarding. If you take part in any of the above-mentioned activities, it is a condition of cover that you act in a responsible way to protect yourself and that: 1. You are on-piste (or if off-piste; you are with a professional guide at all times); 2. You follow the safety guidelines for the Skiing and Winter Sports concerned and where applicable, you use the appropriate and recommended safety equipment; 3. The Skiing and Winter Sport is not part of a competition or tournament, including training or practising; 4. The Skiing and Winter Sport is not undertaken on a professional basis; and 5. The Skiing and Winter Sport is not excluded by the policy or listed in General Exclusions. Please remember that any Winter Sports equipment you have left behind or left unattended is not covered under this section. However, skis, poles and snowboards that you have taken all reasonable care to protect and have left in a locked ski rack between the hours of 8am and 6pm may be covered under Section 3F. The cover described in sections 15 to section 20 is only available if ‘Ski and Winter Sports Option’ is shown on your Certificate of Insurance.}