Skiing is above all a leisure sport, which must remain a pleasure. However, practising this activity is not without risk and numerous accidents happen every year on the slopes. We explain to you if it’s necessary to take out specific insurance for your mountain trip to protect you as well as other skiers.
The answer is: it's for the best. Depending on what you are going to do, and particularly if you plan on going off piste, mountain rescue is not free of charge and can incur extremely high costs if particular means are put in place to rescue you in case of an accident. Therefore, check your insurance policies and the coverage included with your credit card however don't hesitate in protecting yourself fully. Even if you have confidence in your downhill skiing level, you can cause injury to other skiers or be injured by an inexperienced skier.
Care support varies from 300 to 350 euros for an intervention on the slopes. A price to which must be added the cost of the ambulance (between 150 and 180 euros) which will take you to the hospital or to the general practitioner in town.
If the accident takes place off piste, the cost of the operation can reach between 500 and 600 euros, without the ambulance. Your mountain trip risks becoming extremely expensive if you are skiing with our family without strengthened coverage.
It’s worth spending a few extra euros to benefit from insurance that will cover all rescue costs in case of an accident.
On average, the insurance offered with your ski pass, Carré Neige or other, costs around €15 for one week, some cost €1 per person per day. This depends on the resort and its insurance provider. That said, read the policy thoroughly to know exactly what it covers. They often don’t all include the same coverage: repatriation, death insurance, broken equipment, search and rescue costs on the slope. Find out if the insurance you are purchasing meets your requirements for winter sports protection.
We often forget that bank cards offer insurance for cancelled stays or accidents, of course on the condition that ski passes or equipment rental is paid L card. Check the coverage provided by your card. Knowing that your type of bank card: Visa premier or not, gold Mastercard, etc. will determine which type of ski insurance you can claim.
Reading the coverage provided by your payment card specifically is essential before deciding if it is sufficient or not.
Think about if you need compensation for damaged ski equipment or to cancel a rental that you reserved with your bank card.
Multi-risk home insurance policies also offer coverage however they generally don’t include off piste search for example. Your liability insurance that covers damages that you may inflict on a third party, can work on the condition that ski areas are not excluded.
Check the clauses on rescue on and off piste depending on your plans to ensure appropriate coverage. Moreover, even though it's not the most pleasant thought, check that you have death insurance.
Read your insurance policies before departure and where appropriate, supplement your usual coverage by giving your insurer a call to be certain that you are well covered for your mountain trip. If you have several policies with the same insurer then you can negotiate a preferential rate. You should also check the reimbursement limits to decide if additional insurance is needed.
No! You should absolutely take out insurance or pay with your bank card if it covers ski accidents. However, ski schools decline all responsibility in the case of accident during their lessons. Moreover, helmets are mandatory for lessons and insurance policies strongly advise wearing one on a ski trip.
Ski insurance policies generally include coverage against theft or breakage. Your renter may also suggest you pay a few euros extra to protect against this. Before accepting however, check that the bank card you use to pay doesn't include this coverage.
Do you ski and do other mountain sports all year round? Opt for annual insurance that covers your rescue and repatriation costs, even abroad!
For an average of thirty or so euros a year (depending on coverage), it's invaluable for your safety and extremely useful in case of accident. Ideally, it covers:
- Medical costs
- Search and rescue costs
- Death insurance or coverage in case of disability
- Repatriation, even from the other side of the world!
If you’re a member of the French Ski Federation, you can take advantage of organised ski activities and the leisure snow card which offers basic coverage to top up with insurance.
You now know why it is important to take out a skiing insurance, in order to enjoy your holiday serenely!
Communications team and ski enthusiasts