Whilst many people rely on annual travel insurance policies, skiers should be warned not to jet off without full winter sports cover. A worrying 31%* believe a standard travel policy will cover them for sports related injuries, such as skiing. And with European destinations like the French Alps and Switzerland being popular, skiers should be warned that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme is not likely to cover all costs associated with an accident, like repatriation back to the UK, which over 62%** of people wrongly believe EHIC covers.
A ski injury could dwarf the actual cost of the holiday. Insurers paid out:
- £9,420 for medical treatment, airlift and repatriation for a fractured vertebrae of a skier in France
- £18,220 for medical treatment and repatriation for someone who broke their leg snowboarding in the USA.
Nick Starling, Director of General Insurance at the ABI said:
"Before setting off to the slopes for the busy ski season, avoid skipping on essential cover and ruining your winter escape. The cost of medical treatment for ski injuries could put most people out of pocket, so it's vital to ensure you have adequate winter sports cover."
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