| If you're off to the slopes this winter, you're | | | | for further care. Repatriation can cost anywhere |
| probably expecting a week or two of exhilarating fun | | | | from £5,000-35,000 depending on where you |
| with the odd hot cocoa by the fire and a few nights | | | | are, and EHIC won't pay for that. Private medical |
| out with friends or family. You're probably not | | | | travel insurance covers many extras that you'll find |
| counting on spending an afternoon getting your arm | | | | either necessary or extremely handy. Standard |
| or leg plastered in a hospital or clinic emergency room | | | | Travel Cover Is Not Enough! If you have standard |
| - but it's certainly something you should plan for. | | | | travel insurance, be sure to check the fine print. You |
| Unfortunately, one in every four Brits hit the slopes | | | | may think that you're covered by a policy that |
| with no travel insurance, and even more of them - a | | | | comes with your credit card, bank account or your |
| full 27% - believe that their basic travel policy will pay | | | | standard annual insurance, but few of them include |
| out if they have a skiing injury. This could prove | | | | winter or extreme sports cover. Even if the fine print |
| disastrous for the 25% of us who fly down the | | | | doesn't specifically rule out winter sports claims, your |
| slopes with no travel cover at all - because the | | | | cover level may not be sufficient. Minimum |
| statistics say that one in every seven Brits does end | | | | recommended coverage if you're planning on hitting |
| up requiring medical care while on a skiing holiday. | | | | the ski slopes or winter snowboarding or tubing |
| Making sure that you have the right travel cover if | | | | includes: Medical Cover: £2,000,000 Personal |
| you engage in skiing and other more extreme winter | | | | Liability: £1,000,000 Cancellation: £3,000 |
| sports is vital. Here are a few pointers to help ensure | | | | Baggage: £1,500 Cash: £250 Even then, be |
| that you're adequately covered for your next ski | | | | sure to check the fine print or talk with your insurer |
| holiday. Free Travel Insurance Medical Cover! That's | | | | if you're planning on including activities like para-skiing, |
| right, free. As a citizen resident of the UK, you're | | | | bob-sleighing or ski-jumping, and find out if your ski |
| entitled to carry a European Health Insurance Card | | | | equipment will be covered for damage and loss. |
| that will entitle you to free or subsidized medical | | | | Other Considerations for Winter Sports Cover: 1. Will |
| costs as long as you're in any European Economic | | | | you be covered for personal injury and liability if you |
| Area country. Keep in mind that it will only cover | | | | participate in extreme sports? Many policies exclude |
| medical costs, and it may not cover the full cost of | | | | serious injury or harm to others under those |
| all treatments, but it is a vital part of your travel | | | | conditions. 2. Will you be covered for no-snow or |
| cover if you're overseas. How to Get Your EHIC | | | | piste closure conditions? While you may have trip |
| Apply online at at your local Post Office or over the | | | | cancellation cover, it may not specifically cover |
| telephone (0845 606 2030). Why You Need More | | | | no-snow or piste closure. 3. Make sure you take your |
| than EHIC An accident on the ski slopes or frozen | | | | insurance documents with you and contact your |
| lakes tend to carry more than just medical expenses. | | | | insurer immediately if you are injured in an accident. |
| Some of the unexpected expenses that won't be | | | | Both of those steps will make getting appropriate |
| covered by EHIC include upgrading your seat to allow | | | | medical treatment far easier. |
| room for your cast - or worse, air ambulance home | | | | |