Holiday-makers with pre-existing medical conditions are being reminded by leading travel insurance comparison site, MedicalTravelCompared.co.uk, that they don’t have to break a leg to secure travel insurance for winter sports.

According to research published by ABTA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, though, as many as a third of skiers and snowboards aren’t buying the right travel insurance before they hit the slopes.

Vicki Moses, Marketing Director for Medical Travel Compared, commented: “For many people, living with a pre-existing medical condition does not prevent them from enjoying a winter sports holiday, but it can make finding travel insurance a bit more difficult.

“It is important to make sure that all your medical conditions are declared when you apply for insurance and to declare what sports you will be participating in. Not having the right insurance cover can put you at risk of incurring hefty medical bills if you are injured on the slopes and require emergency medical treatment.”

Skiing and snowboarding are both classified as dangerous sports so getting the right travel insurance means buying a specialist ski insurance policy or adding a winter sports or ski extension to your standard travel insurance.

MedicalTravelCompared.co.uk was created specifically for those with pre-existing medical conditions, and the over 65s, to tackle the difficulties associated with securing appropriate travel insurance and offers easy and convenient access to a choice of 40 specialist travel insurance providers.

Medical conditions only have to be declared once in a sophisticated online medical screening system and the company offers travellers further support through a telephone medical screening support line.

When asked about MedicalTravelCompared.co.uk’s advice to help those with pre-existing conditions buy travel insurance for winter sports, Vicki suggested her Top five Tips:

1. Medical cover: Snow sports can be dangerous and there is a greater risk of injury than for other types of holidays. Look at policies that offer the highest level of cover possible including mountain rescue, medical treatment abroad, and repatriation by air ambulance, if needed. 

2. Cancellation cover: As soon as you book your holiday, make sure you have travel insurance in place just in case you have to unexpectedly cancel your holiday, and make sure it has a high enough limit to cover the full cost of your trip.

3. Limits and restrictions: Winter sports equipment and clothing is expensive to buy or hire, so it’s important to make sure it’s covered against damage or theft. Most policies charge an extra premium for winter sports baggage and insurers will expect you to take reasonable care of it so make sure you’ve got adequate cover.

4. Lessons and passes: The cost of lessons and lift passes can run into hundreds of pounds so it’s sensible to insure against not being able to use them because of illness, injury, loss or theft.  Most winter sports also allow skiing off-piste subject to certain conditions but check the small print to avoid invalidating your cover.

 

5. Delays and closures: Most policies provide cover if all the pistes at the resort are closed due to a lack of snow, excessive snow, or high winds, and will also compensate you for the costs of extra travel and accommodation if an avalanche delays your arrival at or departure from the resort.

Medicaltravelcompared.co.uk makes it easy to find appropriate winter sports travel insurance with cover for all types of pre-existing medical conditions.

To use the company’s comparison service, visit www.MedicalTravelCompared.co.uk or telephone their medical screening support line on 0808 102 3255. More information on travelling with a heart condition can also be found in the Travel Insurance Guides on the company’s website or in a series of videos at www.youtube.com/medicaltravelcompared