what does winter sports travel insurance cover

Winter Sports Travel Insurance – The Ultimate Guide

• August 28, 2023

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If you’re an avid winter sports fan and love to hit the slopes every season, you know that good travel insurance is of paramount importance. But do you know which one offers the best coverage?

Let’s explore the top providers and how they can give you the protection you need during your next winter sports adventure.

What is Winter Sports Travel Insurance?

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Winter sports travel insurance can provide peace of mind when traveling during the colder months. As you plan your snowy getaway, it’s essential to understand the risks associated with winter activities, such as skiing and snowboarding, and how a special winter sports travel insurance policy may provide you with the protection you need.

Winter sports medical emergency coverage can be critical if you are heading off to a ski resort or secluded area of the mountains on vacation because local healthcare facilities may not be available in an emergency.

With an insurance policy for winter sports travel, you’ll have access to specialized medical care in case something happens while enjoying your outdoor activities.

In addition to medical coverage, policies often provide coverage for stolen equipment, damage or loss of equipment due to breakdowns or delays during trips, and even trip cancellation due to bad weather.

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Additionally, some policies will cover avalanche search and rescue operations if they should become necessary. Knowing that these risks can easily be covered with a proper policy will help alleviate any concerns before beginning your winter vacation.

When selecting your winter sports travel insurance plan, it’s essential to read all of the details before purchasing. Different plans may offer different levels of coverage, so make sure that the one you choose meets all of your needs. 

When properly prepared and protected with a comprehensive plan before heading out on any ski trip or other winter holiday adventure, you’ll have less worry about what could go wrong so that you can enjoy all that nature has to offer when snow hits the ground!

Benefits of Winter Sports Travel Insurance

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Travel insurance for winter sports trips is a must for any traveler heading on an adventure to ski, snowboard, ice skate, or participate in other winter activities. Winter sports travel insurance provides protection from the unexpected dangers of winter sports trips.

Winter sports travel insurance covers you and your possessions in the case of an accident, trip cancellation or interruption, damaged or lost luggage, medical and evacuation expenses, and more. Many insurers even provide coverage for extreme sports such as heli-skiing and shark diving.

The benefits of winter sports travel insurance can include reimbursement for medical expenses such as ambulance rides, doctor’s visits, and surgery if you are injured while participating in a covered activity.

Trip cancellation benefits should you be forced to cancel your ski vacation before it begins, luggage loss protection should your equipment be lost or stolen, and additional coverages like collision damage waiver benefits if you rent snowmobiles or other equipment.

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Winter Sports Travel Insurance also offers coverage when renting expensive specialty sporting equipment such as snowboards, skis, snowshoes, or avalanche airbags.

With so much going on during winter vacations – icy roads, unpredictable weather conditions, high altitudes – it’s crucial to ensure that you have the financial backup to protect yourself from unexpected costs associated with participating in winter activities around the world.

Types of Winter Sports Covered

When traveling overseas to take part in winter sports activities, it is essential to make sure you have the right type of travel insurance . 

Different policies will cover different types of winter sports, and it is important to make sure your policy covers the specific activity you are planning to participate in. 

Here we look at some of the sporting activities typically covered by winter sports travel insurance policies:

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Snow Sports

These are activities that include skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, mogul skiing, and heli-skiing. Policies typically cover associated risks such as an injury due to accidents while participating in these activities, damage or loss of equipment, including skis, snowboards, and helmets, or medical costs.

These are activities such as ice hockey and curling, where blades are used on ice surfaces for sliding or propelling objects. Insurance policies usually provide coverage for medical costs of an injury that occurred while participating in these activities, as well as any associated equipment damage or loss.

Winter Trekking

Many hazard-related risks can be encountered when trekking during winter months. Policies cover medical costs due to accident or illness while out on a trek (including rescue expenses) and associated equipment damage or loss while trekking during cold weather conditions.

Other Winter Activities

Have you planned other cold-weather activities, such as dog sledding? Most insurers will tailor a bespoke policy for activities such as these, ensuring adequate levels of coverage for all associated risks.

Key Considerations When Choosing Winter Sports Travel Insurance

When selecting winter sports travel insurance, there are several important things to consider.

First, it is vital to understand the type of coverage that is included in the policy and any additional coverage that may be needed for specific activities.

Having detailed financial coverage for medical expenses and any losses incurred during the trip is also a good idea.

It is also wise to read through the policy carefully, preserve it safely, and take special care to note critical details such as who is covered under the insurance plan and what activities are not protected . Additionally, bear in mind any exclusions, as they can play an important part when considering whether or not particular areas of coverage are suitable.

When buying winter sports travel insurance, make sure to keep an eye out for all added costs and estimated total premiums for full coverage.

You should also ask about discounts for multiple people traveling on one policy or longer stays in order to get a better deal on overall costs.

Finally, check the details of cancellations or non-refundable items when looking through potential policies to ensure you will be covered if something unexpected comes up during your travels.

Common Exclusions in Winter Sports Travel Insurance

Most winter sports travel insurance policies will have their own exclusions, limitations, and conditions that state what the policy does not cover. 

Winter sports traveler should read their policy very carefully to familiarize themselves with these exclusions, as they will often differ from one situation to the next.

Generally speaking, standard exclusions include the following:

• Damage caused by intentional acts or illegal activities of the insured person.
• Damage caused by drug or alcohol consumption.
• Injuries due to participation in Motorsport or Motorsports related activities (including Skidoo and snowmobile).
• Accidents resulting from air travel or air-related activities (including ski jumping & paragliding).
• Unstable snow conditions (e.g., avalanches & chunks of ice falling off cliffs).
• Poverty or deprivation of basic necessities.
• Treatment for already existing injury or illness that is not complimentary with any other coverage you may have.
• Outdoor/extreme sports such as mountaineering, rock climbing, and caving.
• Loss of passports, visas, and documents.
• Expenses incurred due to trip cancellations in advance of the policy commencement date.

How to Make a Claim on Winter Sports Travel Insurance?

Claims on winter sports travel insurance can be complicated, but it is important to understand how the process works before you purchase any policy.

Suppose something should happen while you are away, such as a sudden illness or injury, theft, equipment damage, or even a missed flight connection. In that case, the right winter sports travel insurance policy could help protect you against potentially significant losses.

When it comes time to make a claim on your policy, here are the steps to follow.

1. Contact your insurer urgently in case of an emergency resulting in urgent medical care or the potential loss of your personal possessions.

2. Get a police report if required and make sure that all relevant information is documented correctly when escalating your claim.

3. Collect all necessary evidence and documents, such as receipts that evidence either what you have spent or prove the value of items lost or damaged during travel-related incidents.

4. Submit forms accurately and with all required evidence before the stated deadline for claims under your chosen policy terms and conditions.

5. Have patience, as insurers may require additional information from you, dependent upon the nature of any given claim submitted under your policy terms and conditions.

6. Check with customer services to ensure that everything is progressing correctly. Before an insurer agrees to pay for something, they first need to check that it’s covered by the policy. This means looking at the limits that were set when the policy was agreed upon. If something isn’t covered, then the insurer won’t pay out.

It’s important to remember that both the payer and the provider need to have a clear understanding of what is and isn’t covered by the policy. If there is any confusion, then it’s best to get clarification before proceeding.

7. Finally, It’s important to keep detailed records of all correspondence with insurers in case you need to refer back to them at a later date. This will help you understand the cause of any problems and ensure that you get the full value to which you are entitled. Make sure that you follow all the requirements set out by the insurer so that there can be no confusion or misunderstanding about what is expected from you.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Winter Sports Travel Insurance

Winter sports have become increasingly popular worldwide, which means it’s more important than ever to ensure you have the best winter sports travel insurance in place before hitting the slopes.

Having travel insurance can provide invaluable protection when things don’t go according to plan and can save you a lot of hassle, wasted time, and unexpected costs.

When considering winter sports travel insurance, there are several tips to keep in mind that can help you make sure that you’re adequately covered:

1. Choose an insurance policy with a good range of coverage – Look into features such as medical evacuation coverage, delay and cancellation cover, and rental car damage coverage.

2. Look for policies that offer extra skiing and snowboarding features – Skiing or snowboarding with specialized equipment? Check that your policy provides cover for ski poles or snowboarding helmets should they break during your travels. Some policies may even reimburse you for costs should you break ski rental equipment while on holiday.

3. Consider buying several days more of coverage than your holiday length – The extra cost is usually negligible compared to other elements of your trip, but it often covers lost luggage and health care bills until your flight home arrives if anything unexpected happens during your trip (or shortly before).

4. Ask about group discounts – Many insurers will offer discounted rates if purchasing winter sports travel insurance as a group – worth checking out as additional savings!

5. Inquire about refunds or partial refunds – When pre-booking activities like ski lessons or lift passes, having pre-trip cancellation cover might be worth considering in case plans change (or activities need to be canceled due to inclement weather).

Summary of Winter Sports Travel Insurance

Winter sports travel insurance is an important consideration when planning a trip to any mountain or ski resort. Winter activities can be a source of excitement and adventure, but they also come with inherent risks that can potentially result in severe injury or financial loss.

Winter sports travel insurance offers protection in case of an accident or the suspension of your holiday due to unforeseen circumstances.

It typically covers medical care and related expenses, as well as personal liability and rescue costs associated with winter sports activities at a destination outside your home country.

This coverage may include skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling, and other related activities.

In some cases, additional forms of coverage can be included, such as coverage for lost/delayed baggage, missed flights/connections, and cancellations. 

Additional coverage for rental gear or gear depreciation may also be available. Comprehensive winter sports travel insurance should provide enough protection to ensure you return home safely from your winter vacation.

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Best Travel Insurance for Winter, Adventure, and Extreme Sports

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Why Get Adventure Sports Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance often excludes high-risk sports, credit card travel insurance often excludes high-risk activities, travel insurance for high-risk sports, how to get travel insurance for high-risk sports, what sports travel insurance costs, how to choose travel insurance for high-risk sports, the best sports travel insurance plans, final thoughts.

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Planning an adventurous trip? Your travel insurance might not cover everything you want to do — particularly if you plan on adventure activities or winter or extreme sports. 

Whether diving the ocean’s depths or ziplining through a forest, sports travel insurance can help you go confidently on adventures knowing you’re covered if anything goes wrong. Whether you need emergency assistance and evacuation or a reimbursement for a trip cut short by injury, travel insurance with sports coverage can help.

While standard travel insurance typically offers medical coverage, most policies exclude certain activities, particularly risky sports. But you can purchase a travel insurance policy that provides coverage for all your adventures , either as a stand-alone policy or an add-on to a comprehensive travel insurance package.

Let’s explore everything you need to know about travel insurance for sports and adventure activities and how to get that coverage for any high-risk activities you may plan for your travels.

Adventure sports travel insurance covers activities such as mountain climbing or deep-sea scuba diving (i.e. any activity that has a higher risk level than a “regular” travel activity).

While accidents can happen anywhere, you’re particularly vulnerable when away from home. Medical expenses and evacuation can be costly , especially if traveling to remote areas or a foreign country where you’re unsure about quality medical care. Sports travel insurance covers emergency medical expenses, ambulance services, and evacuation.

Some travel insurance companies offer emergency assistance services , which can help you get the medical care you need in a remote location or challenging environment. The travel insurance company can provide access to medical professionals, coordinate your care, and arrange an emergency evacuation if needed.

For example, if you’re climbing a mountain and break a leg, adventure sports travel insurance can help get you off the mountain and connected with medical care.

Adventure sports travel insurance can also help if a sports-related injury requires you to cancel or interrupt your trip or if you experience equipment loss or damage. That can save you money on non-refundable expenses and help you replace sports equipment.

While getting travel insurance is wise, you should understand that standard travel insurance policies may not include coverage for certain sports activities . Some travel insurance plans offer coverage for sports-related injuries and accidents, but others may have exclusions or limitations for high-risk or extreme sports.

When you purchase a travel insurance policy, review the terms and conditions to know which sports and activities are covered and any exclusions or limitations you may need to work with. Usually, travel insurance medical coverage encompasses unexpected accidents or injuries, which can include some sports like hiking or snorkeling, for example. But extreme or high-risk sports such as white water rafting or skydiving may not be included.

Exclusions depend on the insurance policy, but here are some examples of sports and activities that your standard travel insurance policy may not cover:

• Base jumping
• Bungee jumping
• Martial arts and combat sports
• Motor racing and motorsports
• Mountaineering and rock climbing
• Off-piste skiing and snowboarding
• Paragliding and hang gliding
• Scuba diving and deep-sea diving

If you find your travel policy lacking in coverage for the activities you’ve planned, you should consider getting additional coverage, such as a specialized sports travel insurance policy or add-on coverage.

Don’t expect your credit card travel insurance to cover extreme sports. 

While you should read the terms and conditions of the policy, most credit card travel insurance policies exclude risky activities , which extends to sports considered extreme. 

Credit card travel insurance often covers basic medical expenses, trip cancellation or interruption, lost baggage, and travel accidents. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® has premium travel insurance, offering up to $1 million in travel accident insurance, along with emergency evacuation and transportation insurance, emergency medical and dental benefits, and other travel insurance benefits.

If you plan to do high-risk activities and use credit card travel insurance, check your coverage and consider upgrading your travel insurance to include your desired activities.

Credit card travel insurance is helpful but sometimes limited, especially compared to adventure sports travel insurance policies. You may need to pay for travel insurance if you’re planning extreme sports or activities.

As you plan an adventurous trip, consider which travel insurance coverage may be most appropriate for your plans. Some travel insurance policies are comprehensive and cover multiple types of high-risk sports, while others are more specialized. 

Because there’s a wide variety of what’s covered (or not) on each policy, using a travel insurance comparison service such as Squaremouth can be helpful. You can search for travel insurance policies that cover the activities you’re looking for and compare costs and coverage.

Consider these types of adventure travel insurance policies or add-ons:

• Adventure Sports: On an adventure sports travel insurance policy, look for covered activities such as hiking, mountaineering, or rafting. The policy may encompass injuries, medical expenses, trip cancellations or interruptions, and equipment loss or damage.
• Extreme Sports: Travel insurance for extreme sports typically covers skydiving, bungee jumping, or rock climbing, providing coverage for accidents, injuries, medical expenses, and emergency evacuation.
• Sports Equipment: Some travel insurance offers coverage for sports equipment, which can reimburse you for loss, theft, or damage to your gear.
• Team Sports: A travel insurance policy may cover team-related expenses, such as tournament cancellations or travel delays if you travel for competitive events.
• Water Sports: Water sports travel insurance policies may cover surfing, diving, snorkeling, or water skiing. For diving coverage, you should verify that the policy covers the depths you’re planning and whether you need certifications for coverage.
• Winter Sports: Winter sports travel insurance policies are designed for winter sports enthusiasts, offering coverage for skiing or snowboarding-related injuries and emergency medical expenses or equipment loss or damage. Some also cover ski resort closures.

While you can get travel insurance for sports, including high-risk sports, most travel insurance companies have personal liability requirements . Generally, you’re required to act responsibly to use your coverage. That includes not going against local authority warnings, like entering restricted spaces, working close to dangerous animals, or not using proper safety equipment.

Do some pre-trip planning on your chosen activities to learn about the risks and requirements for everything you want to do. You may need to complete certifications or training to participate safely.

Generally, if you want travel insurance for adventurous activities, you should get quotes for a comprehensive travel insurance plan and add a hazardous sports rider. Or specialized insurance providers may offer comprehensive plans for high-risk sports and activities.

Looking for insurance companies specializing in adventure sports is often a good idea to get comprehensive coverage for all your planned activities. 

With any travel insurance policy, you should review the terms and conditions to verify your planned activities are covered. Read your policy documents for exclusions, limitations, or requirements for your chosen activities. You should also verify your coverage limits. 

If you have a health or life insurance policy, check with your insurance carrier about coverage for high-risk sports during travel. While these are likely not covered, you may be able to add a special endorsement to your policy.

Travel insurance that can evacuate you off a mountain sounds like it would be costly, but it might be more affordable than you’d think. It’s certainly less expensive than calling for your own rescue helicopter.

You should expect to pay around 5% to 10% of your total trip cost for sports travel insurance. Your actual adventure sports travel insurance costs will vary depending on your age, trip cost and duration, location, planned activities, and other factors. 

To give you an idea of what you should expect, we got a quote from IMG for an iTravelInsured Travel Sport policy. For a 29-year-old traveler on a $1,500 5-day skiing trip in the U.S., coverage costs $119.65 . 

This policy includes $1 million in medical evacuation coverage and $50,000 in search and rescue coverage. You’re covered for up to $50,000 for medical expenses due to adventure or organized sports, though hazardous and extreme sports are limited to $5,000.

Consider these factors as you compare high-risk sports travel insurance coverage:

• Claims Process and Customer Support: Get the details on what happens if you need emergency assistance or want to file a claim. For example, find out how to get medical attention if injured in a remote area and whether you’re expected to pay upfront and file for reimbursement.
• Cost: Expect adventure travel insurance to cost more than standard travel insurance. Cheaper policies tend to offer less comprehensive coverage, so consider your needs as you balance cost and coverage.
• Duration: Some sports travel insurance policies limit the length of coverage for certain activities, so make sure you have coverage for your whole trip.
• Emergency Assistance and Evacuation: You may engage in high-risk activities in remote locations or challenging environments where medical attention is unavailable immediately. A travel insurance policy can offer emergency assistance or evacuation for medical care.
• Exclusions, Limitations, and Deductibles: Every policy has limits — even extreme policies. Find out what’s excluded, the limits of what you can claim, and if you’re expected to pay a deductible before getting reimbursed. Also, understand the terms and conditions, such as duration and geographical coverage.
• Medical Coverage: With a greater risk of injuries from extreme sports, you should ensure that the insurance policy has adequate coverage for medical emergencies, including hospitalization, ambulance services, and, if needed, medical evacuation.
• Requirements: You may need to meet age limits and disclose any preexisting medical conditions to get appropriate sports travel insurance coverage.
• Reviews: Consider customer reviews and ratings, which can give insight into a travel insurance provider’s coverage quality, customer service, and claims handling.
• Sports Coverage: Find out which sports and activities are covered so you can verify yours are covered.
• Sports Equipment Coverage: If you’re traveling with costly sports equipment such as scuba gear or snowboarding equipment, compare coverage for loss, theft, or damage to your equipment.
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption: A travel insurance policy should cover trip cancellation or interruption due to sports-related injuries.

Your high-risk sports travel insurance may require you to participate responsibly. For example, terms of coverage may require you to choose reputable operators, obtain proper training or certifications, follow local regulations, and use appropriate safety gear.

Not all travel insurance providers offer sports travel insurance, but you have options. Compare these leading travel insurance policies for sports:

• battleface : battleface’s adventure sports coverage includes cycling, mountain climbing, scuba diving, canoeing, snowboarding, and more, but it has limitations, including how deep you can dive or how high you can climb.
• Cat 70 : Cat 70’s Travel Plan covers some adventure sports, including snowboarding, but excludes bodily contact sports, skydiving, scuba diving, and more.
• HTH Worldwide : The HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Preferred plan offers coverage for adventure sports, including certified divers up to 60 feet and water rafting grades 1 to 3.
• IMG : IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Sport plan has a wide range of covered activities, including adventure, extreme, hazardous, and organized sports. However, there are exclusions for races, endurance competitions, and piloting or learning to pilot.
• John Hancock : You’re covered for some — but not all — adventure sports with a John Hancock Gold travel insurance plan. Some exclusions include diving deeper than 100 feet, participating in sports competitions, or contact sports.
• Nationwide : With a Prime plan, you can get covered for adventure sports such as cycling, fishing, rafting, and zip lining, but exclusions apply, such as extreme sports, mountaineering, and organized sports.
• Travelex : The Travelex Adventure Sports upgrade covers professional athletic events, mountain climbing, skydiving, and more. Travelex’s Travel Basic and Travel Select plans provide basic coverage for some activities, including skiing, snorkeling, and scuba diving up to 60 feet.
• World Nomads : With the World Nomads Explorer plan, you can get covered for more than 200 activities, including scuba diving, bungee jumping, and mountain biking.

The right travel insurance coverage is essential when embarking on an adventurous trip with high-risk sports or activities. Adventure sports travel insurance can coordinate medical care, offer evacuation, and save you thousands if you’re injured on a trip. Whether bungee jumping or scuba diving, sports travel insurance can provide peace of mind while you’re chasing thrills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are adventure sports covered by travel insurance.

Adventure sports can be covered by travel insurance, but extreme sports are usually excluded from standard travel insurance coverage. Review your policy’s terms and conditions to determine whether your desired activities are covered. If not, you may want to purchase additional coverage appropriate for the activities you’re planning for your travel.

Does travel insurance cover water sports?

Travel insurance coverage for water sports varies depending on the policy and provider. For example, your standard policy may cover snorkeling, shallow diving, and surfing but could exclude deep-sea diving or white water rafting.

Does travel insurance cover sports injuries?

Travel insurance often covers sports injuries, but it depends on the sport. If you’re injured doing a sport not covered by your policy — such as ziplining or skydiving — medical care for your sports injury will not be covered. 

What travel insurance includes cover for sports equipment?

Sports travel insurance typically offers coverage for sports equipment, which can reimburse you for loss, theft, or damage of your sports equipment while traveling.

What travel insurance company covers me for extreme sports?

Several travel insurance companies cover extreme sports, including battleface, Cat 70, HTH Worldwide, IMG, John Hancock, Nationwide , Travelex, and World Nomads.

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About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

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• Adventure & Sports Travel Insurance

Winter Sports

Travel Insurance for Winter Sports

Search for policies that cover sports like snowboarding, skiing, ice skating and more, winter sports travel insurance from skiing to heli skiing.

Travel insurance for winter sports can cover a wide array of activities with varying levels of danger. However, policies for adventurous travelers may still have a list of excluded activities. Coverage for skiing , for example, is included within many policies. On the other hand, coverage for extreme sports or adventure activities, such as heli skiing or ice climbing, can be included but is much less common.

Winter Sports Coverage

What Does Winter Sports Travel Insurance Cover?

Travel insurance for winter sports is primarily designed to provide cancellation and medical coverage. For travelers planning to participate in winter activities during their trip, but are forced to cancel, the Trip Cancellation benefit can refund their prepaid and non-refundable trip costs, including airfare, hotel accommodations, and expenses related to the activity, such as lift tickets or equipment rentals. In the event of an injury during the trip, travel insurance can reimburse the cost of treating the injury and the cost of a medical evacuation, if necessary.

What to look for when buying travel insurance for winter sports and activities:

Travel insurance for winter sports and activities can vary significantly from policy to policy. Activities that can be covered by one policy, may be specifically excluded from the next. For this reason, for travelers who plan to partake in specific winter sports or activities, it’s important to check a policy’s certificate for a list of excluded activities before purchasing. When buying travel insurance for winter sports, Squaremouth recommends at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage, and $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage.

How to search for travel insurance for winter sports and activities:

The Sports & Activities benefit of travel insurance is designed to cover travelers who are participating in sports or adventurous activities. Using Squaremouth’s activity selection matrix below, travelers can enter the specific winter sports and activities they plan to participate in during their trip to only show available policies with the coverage they need.

Search for policies with coverage for winter sports using our selection matrix.

Search Winter Sports Travel Insurance Policies

Search for winter sports and activities you will be participating in during your trip, then select "Continue to Trip Information" to complete your quote.

• Winter dog sledding, glacier walking, skiing, snowboarding and more. Airboarding Bobsleighing Cross-Country Skiing/Langlauf Dog Sledding (Racing) Dog Sledding (Recreational) Glacier Walking Husky Dog Sledding Ice Climbing Ice Holing Ice Skating Ice Speedway Ice Windsurfing Luge Marathon (Arctic) Mountain Biking (Mega Avalanche or Similar) Skiing (Back country with a guide) Skiing (Back country without a guide) Skiing (Backcountry in resort) Skiing (Cat Skiing/Boarding) Skiing (Cross Country) Skiing (Free-Style) Skiing (Heli Skiing) Skiing (Moguls) Skiing (Mono) Skiing (Nordic) Skiing (Para) Skiing (Ski Biking) Skiing (Ski Blading) Skiing (Ski Boarding) Skiing (Ski Cross/Snowboard Cross) Skiing (Ski Dooing) Skiing (Ski Flying) Skiing (Ski Jumping) Skiing (Ski Mountaineering) Skiing (Ski Racing (ski school races etc)) Skiing (Ski Racing) Skiing (Ski Randonee) Skiing (Ski Stunting) Skiing (Ski Touring) Skiing (Slopestyle (no inverted aerials)) Skiing (Snowcat) Sledding/Tobogganing Sleigh Riding Sleigh Riding (Reindeer/Horse) Snow Biking Snow Blading Snow Bobbing Snow Go-Carting Snow Mobiling Snow Parascending Snow Scooting Snow Shoeing Snow Skiing (Recreational Downhill) Snow Tubing Snowboarding Snowboarding (Back-country without a Guide) Snowboarding (Backcountry in resort) Snowboarding (Freestyle/Terrain Park (inverted aerials)) Snowboarding (Freestyle/Terrain Park (no inverted aerials)) Snowboarding (Heli-boarding) Snowboarding (Recreational) Snowboarding (Slopestyle) Snowboarding (Snowboard Cross) Snowcat Driving Snowmobling Speed Flying/Riding Speed Skating Telemarking Tubing

Please select if you will be participating in amateur or professional events or competitions:

Your quote results will show policies that include coverage for the activities you have chosen, however, we cannot guarantee adequate coverage for your particular trip.

Please either call us or review your policy certificate for coverage limitations and exclusions that may apply to your trip and activities.

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Whether you’re skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing, winter sports travel insurance will bring some peace of mind to your wintry getaway. We cover potential issues that are exclusive to winter sports, such as lost or damaged equipment, closed pistes and medical evacuation from the mountain. That’s one less thing to think about when planning your ski trip!

What is winter sports travel insurance and do you need it?

Winter sports travel insurance is a specific type of travel insurance that covers the increased levels of risk that come with winter sports. Winter sports are typically activities like skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing.

Winter sports holidays are exhilarating, but there is no doubt that they come with a certain amount of risk. Accidents on the mountain come with an increased level of complexity to treat, which often makes them very expensive.

• More than 200 significant winter sports-related injuries are reported each year, according to the ABTA.
• 12% of people aged 25-34 have gone on a winter sports trip with someone who has a major injury from the slopes, such as a broken bone or concussion, which has landed them in hospital .

Regular travel insurance policies cover accidents and injuries, but they will not cover the high-risk activities of winter sports. Therefore, if you’re injured while skiing or snowboarding, you may not be covered. This makes getting specific winter sports travel insurance incredibly important.

Which winter sports are covered?

Our winter sports travel insurance includes a range of different activities, from skiing and snowboarding to bobsleighing and tobogganing. 

Here’s a list of all the winter sports activities we cover:

• Snowboarding
• Off-piste skiing/snowboarding (except where considered unsafe by resort management)
• Cross country skiing
• Freestyle skiing*
• Mono skiing
• Recreational/non-professional ski racing or training*
• Ski acrobatics*
• Ski bob racing*
• Ski/snowboard fun parks*
• Ski stunting*
• Ski touring with a guide
• Bobsleighing*
• Glacier walking or trekking under 2,000m altitude
• Ice climbing under 100m (fully supervised)*
• Ice fishing
• Ice hockey*
• Snowmobiling*
• Tobogganing

Note: Unfortunately, there is no cover for ski flying, ski jumping or ski mountaineering. For the activities marked with an * above an increased medical excess of £250 will apply and there will be no cover under the personal accident or personal liability sections of the policy. See our policy wording for more details.

What else does InsureandGo’s winter sports travel insurance cover?

What’s covered.

Your travel insurance policy with winter sports added includes:

• Emergency medical expenses
• Cover for cancellation of your trip
• Over 100 sports and activities covered (see your policy wording for a full list of activities)
• Personal belongings and baggage cover
• Personal money, passports and travel documents cover
• Accommodation cover
• Legal expenses cover
• Delayed departure cover
• Our 24-hour emergency assistance team , available to call, day or night

What’s not covered?

We strive to provide as much cover as possible. However, there are some situations no travel insurance will cover. For example:

• You cannot cover events or reasons to claim which took place before you booked the trip or purchased insurance. Insurance exists to cover unexpected events outside of the insured’s control
• Claims which are less than the excess for that section of cover. For example, you cannot claim a £40 lost item if your baggage excess is £60
• All of our winter sports travel insurance policies include cover for cancellation of your trip, but there may be some exclusions. For example, you won’t be covered to cancel if you simply decide not to go

We will consider all pre-existing medical conditions, find out more about medical travel insurance . 

The excess and amount of cover available varies depending on the level of travel insurance for winter sports you buy. Make sure you check the policy wording to see the full terms and conditions.

To check the policy exclusions and what is and isn’t included, take a look at our policy wording .

Age restrictions

We’ll cover anyone up to the age of 65 for winter sports around the world.

The amount of valuables cover available depends on the policy you choose. Make sure you have a look at our policy wording to see the full terms and conditions. If you’ll be taking away something a bit more expensive you can add our valuables extension .

Lost, stolen or damaged items

Our winter sports travel insurance policies cover all skis, poles, snowboards, boots & bindings. We’ll cover lost, stolen or damaged items, even if they’re stolen out of a ski rack (between the hours of 10am – 8pm). We’ll also cover costs to hire equipment if yours is lost, stolen or damaged.

Unfortunately, we can’t cover lost, stolen or damaged items that are left unattended. We also can’t cover lost, stolen or damaged items that are not reported to the police within 24 hours.

Trip length

Winter sports cover for a single trip will last the whole length of your stay. If you add winter sports cover to an annual multi-trip policy, this will only cover you for 17 days of snowy fun.

The best travel insurance for your winter sports trip

Winter sports cover is added to your travel insurance policy. Not sure what you need? 

• Heading to the Alps? Our Europe travel insurance will have you covered, even if you accidentally ski over the border into another country. 
• Going slightly further afield? Our worldwide travel insurance might be what you need if you’re heading to destinations like the Rockies or Whistler. 
• Doing multiple snowy getaways this year? Our multi-trip annual travel insurance policies will cover you for up to 17 days of wintery fun. 
• Not skiing or snowboarding? Don’t worry. Our winter sports policies cover most winter sports, including ice fishing, bobsleighing and snowmobile rides. 
• Don’t want a pre-existing medical condition to stop you? It won’t. Our pre-existing medical condition travel insurance covers over 1,300 pre-existing conditions, many at no extra cost. 
• We can be as flexible as you need. Already got a policy and need to add winter sports cover? No worries. You can manage your policy online or give our team a call .

Choose a cover level to suit your travel needs

Winter sports insurance for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions.

Just like with every other type of trip, it’s important to make sure you have adequate travel insurance for medical conditions . We’ll consider cover for any medical conditions which are declared to us, even while you’re on a winter sports trip. However please be aware that some conditions, such as osteoporosis may not be covered while you’re taking part in winter sports.

We consider something to be a pre-existing condition if you have: 

• Taken any prescribed medication or received medical treatment within the last 2 years
• Been registered in or been an outpatient at a hospital, clinic or GP surgery in the last 2 years.
• Been advised of a terminal illness.

Before buying a winter sports travel insurance policy, you must let us know about any pre-existing conditions you have. Just call us or use our quick and easy online medical screening.

Which destinations are covered by our winter sports insurance?

We offer winter sports travel insurance policies based on the following destination groupings:

• Europe (plus countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, plus Madeira and The Azores)*
• Worldwide (except the USA , Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean).
• Worldwide .

*Europe includes: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores, Balearics, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madeira, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.

If you’ve already bought annual multi-trip travel insurance for a particular area but are now going to be travelling further afield, we can upgrade your cover to include the new destination. Alternatively, you could purchase separate single-trip cover instead, but upgrading your annual travel insurance policy to include worldwide cover can often work out cheaper.

If you’d like to discuss these options, or you’re still unsure which area your trip falls into, please contact us .

How to book our winter sports insurance

We know planning your winter getaway can be complex, so we make getting winter sports travel insurance as simple as possible:

1. Let us know about your trip

We need to know a bit about your trip, who you want to cover and when you want the policy to start. We will also ask you for information regarding any pre-existing medical conditions so that we can provide you with the right level of cover. 

It’s quick and easy to give us this information, either online or by calling our team:

2 . Get your quote

Once we have all the details we need, we will send you your quote. At this stage, you can go ahead and buy your policy, or save the quote for the future.

“Getting a robust winter sports travel insurance policy is so important before heading out. Nobody wants to be airlifted off the side of the mountain, but it’s even worse if you’re paying for it directly. Our winter sports travel insurance policies cover you for that, as well as any lost or damaged equipment, or even if the piste is closed. That leaves you free to enjoy your winter sports break, stress-free.” Russell Wallace – Travel insurance expert

Our reviews speak for themselves

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Frequently asked questions on winter sports travel insurance

How much does winter sports travel insurance cost.

There is no standard cost for winter sports travel insurance. The exact cost of your winter sports travel insurance will vary depending on the length of the trip you’re taking, where you’re going, whether or not you have any pre-existing medical conditions, any activities you’ll be doing, and any additional cover you might need.

Can I get winter sports insurance without travel insurance?

Unfortunately, we do not offer winter sports insurance without travel insurance. To get winter sports insurance, you need to add this specific type of cover to either a single trip or annual multi-trip policy. 

Please be aware that winter sports travel insurance for a single trip will last the whole length of your stay, but is limited to 17 days per year on annual policies.

What to look for in winter sports insurance?

In general, you should look for winter sports travel insurance which provides cover for

• Medical costs while taking part in your chosen activity
• Costs to return you to the UK if medically necessary
• Lost, stolen or damaged ski equipment
• Piste closure
• Cancellation or curtailment

Every provider offers different cover for winter sports, and you should always check to make sure that your policy meets your specific needs.

Is equipment included in winter sports travel insurance?

Yes. All InsureandGo policies with winter sports travel insurance added will cover equipment lost, stolen or damaged, as long as it is not left unattended in a public area. We cover all skis, poles, snowboards, boots & bindings. 

If your skiing equipment is lost, stolen or damaged, we’ll cover it – even if it’s stolen out of a ski rack (between the hours of 10am and 8pm). We’ll also cover the costs of hiring new equipment. 

When should I buy winter sports travel insurance?

You should buy your winter sports cover as soon as you book your winter sports trip, or as soon as possible. Remember that your winter sports travel insurance will only be valid if you have bought it before you leave the UK.

Are there age limits for winter sports insurance?

Unfortunately, our cover for winter sports is only available to people 65 and under (at the time they buy the policy).

How to claim on your InsureandGo winter sports travel insurance

As soon as you know you want to make a claim:

• Contact the claims handlers.   You can either do this online or give us a call
• Gather as much evidence as possible upfront to speed up the process
• Complete the claim form carefully. I nclude any copies of relevant paperwork, such as receipts or medical certificates.  
• Submit the claim. Make sure to keep a copy for yourself. 

Note: Be sure to check the fine print on your policy before claiming. You’ll want to check that you’re within the time limits for making a claim and how much your excess is.

Will GHIC cover me for winter sports?

The GHIC , formerly known as the EHIC or E111, is a medical card that entitles you to free or reduced-cost medical treatment while in Europe. While the cost of medical treatment is reduced or free in some countries, it does not cover anything outside of this, such as airlifting to the hospital.  The GHIC is not an alternative to winter sports travel insurance and does not cover the cost of repatriation if you need to be flown back to the UK. The UK Government advises that all UK nationals get the required level of travel insurance before they leave the country.

 Do I need winter sports insurance for trips to snowy countries?

If you’re planning a snowy getaway, winter sports travel insurance might be sensible – even if you’re not planning on skiing. Remember that winter sports travel insurance covers more than just skiing. If you fancy a snowmobile ride, dog-sledding or a reindeer trip, regular travel insurance policies won’t cover you in case of an emergency or mishap.

What is considered off-piste for travel insurance?

Typically, an area that is considered off-piste for travel insurance is any area that is between the piste-bashed runs. These areas are often unmanaged terrain and can be easily identified by looking at the boundaries on the resort’s map. 

At InsureandGo, we cover off-piste skiing and snowboarding as standard unless the area has been designated as unsafe by the resort.

Who can buy an InsureandGo winter sports travel insurance policy?

All our winter sports travel insurance policies are available to UK residents. This means:

• Someone who has been living in the UK or the Channel Islands for at least six of the last 12 months
• They must be in the UK at the time of purchase
• All trips must start and end in the UK

Get a quote online or browse our policy documents for more information.

Travel insurance guides

Frequently asked questions.

If you’ve got more questions about how our winter sports travel insurance works, or more general travel insurance queries, have a read through our FAQs .

Travel advice

Our travel advice section offers handy tips and guides to specific countries, from what documents you need to what you might visit while you’re there.

Travel insurance reviews

If you want to know what our customers think of us, and why they rate us so highly, have a read through some of the reviews they’ve left us.

• Unlimited emergency medical expenses available on Black level policies.
• Based on 2,050 responses, correct as of 22/01/2024

  Call us on 01494 484800 Open Mon - Fri | 9:00 - 5:30

What Does Winter Sports Travel Insurance Cover?

Whether you’re learning to ski on the dry slope near you or snowboard down the black run in the Alps this winter, winter sports can be fantastic fun and a great way to keep fit. However, it’s not a sport that’s to be taken lightly: equipment and travel expenses make it a costly endeavour, and the speeds involved – combined with the unforgiving nature of snow and ice – can make it hazardous, too.

That’s why it’s advisable for every participant, regardless of their experience or ability, to have dedicated skiing insurance or snowboarding insurance , or general winter sports insurance if you are doing some form of other winter activity on your trip abroad. In this guide, we’ll look at how it works, why it’s so indispensable, and what to look out for in a good policy.

What is winter sports travel insurance?

Travel insurance for winter sports are specialist policies designed to take care of all the possible circumstances that may befall a participant, whatever their activity. They make sure that you won’t lose out financially as a result of an accident or injury that affects you, your equipment or other people, even if you’re found to be at fault. They also give you the peace of mind that any bills incurred as a result, be they medical, transport-related or otherwise, are also taken care of.

Why is travel insurance for winter sports important?

In short, winter sports can be dangerous. Whether speeding down a mountain on skis or gliding across a rink on ice skates, there is always a risk of injury . These could be caused by a fall, a collision with another person, intense physical exertion, and even through the cold weather getting through poor or damaged clothing and kit. Even the most experienced winter sports enthusiast will make mistakes or be in the wrong place at the wrong time, so keeping covered whatever happens is vital.

Because of the UK’s relatively mild climate, the winter sports facilities in this country are somewhat limited, meaning that the majority of people travel abroad, either to the Alps or further afield. This means that travellers can’t rely on the NHS in the event of injury or accident and need to ensure that they have the right insurance cover in place to avoid huge medical fees.

What kind of activities are covered?

You can get insurance cover for just about every winter sport activity you can think of. That can include downhill skiing and snowboarding, whether on real snow on holiday, or artificial/indoor slopes around the UK. It can include cross-country skiing and alpine ski touring, stunt-related activities on skis or boards, and sliding sports like ice-skating and tobogganing.

One thing that is important to remember is that most insurers will distinguish between recreational activity and competitive events. So, if you’re planning to enter a competition, make sure that you check that your chosen policy is suitable.

What is included in winter sports travel insurance?

The exact detail of what should be in your winter sports travel insurance policy will vary slightly, depending on the nature of your sport. But in general terms, there are four particular areas you should look out for:

Personal Accident and Liability

Cover is essential if you have an accident while participating in your chosen sport and you become injured and/or your equipment is damaged. Additionally, if you happen to injure someone else and/or damage their kit, you could be liable for a claim. A good policy will protect you in these areas through Personal Accident and Personal Liability cover respectively.

Cover for equipment and luggage

From the start of your trip to the end, all the possessions you take with you are at risk of loss, damage or theft. This could be damage through a crash on the slopes, or misplaced luggage that fails to arrive at your destination. Insurance can fund any replacements that you might need, including hiring kit on a temporary basis so that your holiday isn’t disrupted.

Insurance for travel arrangements and competitions

As well as your luggage, you can also cover yourself if your travel arrangements are disrupted to the point that you’re delayed or have to abandon the trip. This also extends to any competitions you’ve entered or activities you’ve signed up for. Good insurance will pay out for any entry fees that are unrecoverable.

Medical expenses and repatriation

The costs of a winter sports accident can quickly mount up, even beyond the hefty fees of overseas hospital care. In the most serious circumstances, you may need rescuing off a mountain and need repatriating back to the UK. The sums of money involved in these services can be enormous, but insurance removes the risk of any personal financial loss if they’re required.

Does an EHIC or GHIC cover winter sports activity in Europe?

Possessing a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is always a good idea for any travel abroad. However, it is not a replacement for travel insurance.

EHICs and GHICs are designed to provide emergency treatment in the event of an accident or injury, but the protections they provide do not extend to all the medical care and related services you may require. For example, if you need to be rescued from a mountain, stay in hospital abroad for a long period of time, or be repatriated back to the UK, you would still need to pay substantial amounts.

Only through dedicated travel insurance policies can you make certain that all medical and related expenses are covered in any eventuality.

Get winter sports insurance with SportsCover Direct

At SportsCover Direct, we have over 25 years’ experience covering people just like you in almost every type of winter sport, ensuring you’re fully protected whenever you hit the slopes and rinks. Our policies include medical and repatriation cover, insurance for trip cancellation and curtailment, personal accident and liability cover, and help if your equipment is lost, damaged or stolen.

Our policies are available at competitive rates, and can be bought either for single trips, or on an annual multi-trip basis. Explore all our winter sports insurance policies in detail .

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Ski Insurance

Grab some air and a great deal for your winter break, 5 star travel insurance from admiral, 5 star rated platinum level travel insurance.

Our Platinum level cover has Defaqto's 5 Star rating.

Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers

Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of the event.

What we cover

We provide cover for some costs related to Covid-19: please see Section 1 'emergency medical costs and repatriation' and Section 2 'cancelling or cutting short your trip' in your policy book for full details on what's covered.

We'll cover you if:

• you were diagnosed with Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
• a close relative died or became seriously ill as a result of Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
• you weren't allowed to board your pre-booked outbound travel due to symptoms of Covid-19
• an insured person or a close relative died during the trip because of Covid-19
• you couldn't take part in an excursion due to you self-isolating after getting Covid-19

What we don’t cover

You won't be covered if:

• you had reason to believe your trip may be cancelled, postponed or cut short when you booked it, purchased your policy or started your trip
• any government or public authority imposes travel restrictions or quarantine on a community, location, or vessel because of Covid-19 (this includes, but is not limited to, local lockdowns, entry requirements, being denied entry and airspace closures)
• you have to quarantine after arriving in the UK or abroad
• the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) change their advice to avoid ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to your destination because of Covid-19

For more information about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects your travel cover, see our FAQ page . And remember to check the policy booklet carefully before you buy to make sure our cover meets your needs.

Do I need ski travel insurance?

Adventure sports and winter sports are often not covered by a standard travel policy, so you may need to get specialist cover – like Admiral's Winter Sports Upgrade.

Not only will you get the standard protection against:

• Lost or stolen luggage
• Medical treatment expenses
• Cancellation cover

You're also covered for:

• Lost, stolen or damaged ski equipment
• Piste closure
• Delays caused by avalanche

If you're only planning on skiing once a year, Admiral's single trip cover with the Winter Sports add-on may suit you.

If you want annual ski travel insurance for more than one break in the season, take a look at our annual cover with the Winter Sports add on. This would cover you for every holiday you take in a year, up to 31 days per trip. However, bear in mind you can only do a maximum of 21 days of winter sports throughout the year in total during the policy term .

What's covered by ski travel insurance?

Whether you’re an experienced skier or a nervous beginner, you can enjoy your trip knowing you don’t have to worry about having the right cover in place.

You can choose from three levels of cover to suit your budget and needs:

Is my equipment protected with travel insurance?

Sports equipment isn't often covered by standard travel insurance policies. If you're insured with Admiral, you just need to add our Winter Sports upgrade to your travel insurance to get protection against damage to your own, or hired, equipment.

You'll be covered up to a maximum of £1,000 for your equipment (depending on the level of cover you choose.)

We also pay up to £25 (per complete 24 hours) towards the cost of hiring replacements (up to a maximum £250 per person), if yours is delayed more than 12 hours following your arrival at your destination or is lost, stolen or damaged during your trip.

Our ski and snowboarding insurance upgrade will help you out if an unforeseen slope closure happens during your break (pistes must closed for more than 24 hours) and protects against delays caused by an avalanche (cover limits apply).

What's classed as a winter sport?

Winter sports insurance gives protection for you to enjoy a whole host of activities on your holiday including:

• Piste skiing
• Snowboarding
• Glacier walking/trekking
• Tobogganing

Please check your policy document for a complete list of all activities we cover.

Travel insurance covering off-piste skiing

Our winter sports insurance add-on covers adventurous off-piste skiers and boarders as long as it’s on recognised paths within resort boundaries and accompanied by a qualified guide or instructor.

Ski insurance - Europe

Any skier and snowboarder will know there are incredible resorts to hit the slopes around the world, but in 2018, Europe was hit with unprecedented amounts of snow and saw many popular resorts opening the lifts early. The glacier pistes of Val-d'Isère opened in June.

So if you want to check out what Europe has to offer – and there's a lot – you'll need to select our European Travel Insurance with the Winter Sports add-on. You'll be covered in all the top resorts such as France's Meribel, Val, La Plagne, and Courchevel, Italy's Cervinia and Zermatt in Switzerland to name a few.

Ski insurance - Canada and America

If the powdery slopes of Canada or America are calling you, you'll need worldwide cover , with the winter add on.

Ski insurance - Japan

Our final cover zone is worldwide excluding USA, Canada & Caribbean, so if Japan is taking your fancy – Niseko is often touted as a powder hound's paradise – this option with winter sports insurance added will get you onto the mountains with the right cover in place.

What happens if my skiing or snowboarding holiday is cancelled?

Depending on the level of cover you choose for your ski or snowboarding insurance – Admiral, Admiral Gold or Admiral Platinum – you could get up to £5,000 to cover the costs of your trip, in the unfortunate event of it being cancelled for any of the following reasons:

• Death, illness, injury or complications of pregnancy or childbirth of you, your travel companion, close relative, close business associate or anyone outside your home area you planned to stay with
• Court cases and quarantine if you or your travel companion, or anyone outside your home area you planned to stay with, is quarantined, called for jury service or as a witness and a court official refuses to postpone
• Unemployment if you or your travelling companion is made redundant from the company you’ve worked at continuously for at least two years
• Armed forces and emergency services if you or your travel companion has authorised leave cancelled due to an unexpected emergency
• Home damage you or your travel companion have to stay at home if it’s seriously damaged by a fire, storm or flood or is burgled within seven days of your departure
• Passport or visa your passport or visa is stolen in a burglary at your home in the seven days before your departure and you’re unable to get a replacement in time

What if I have a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance. This includes having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment for a condition.

You can declare your pre-existing conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 0333 234 9913.

Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:

• Declared them all on your policy
• Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
• Paid any additional premium in full

Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on your policy.

If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.

For a quote with us, click the green button above.

The MoneyHelper directory

If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.

If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online . (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)

How do I get a quote?

You can call 0333 234 9913 for an Admiral Travel Insurance quote and ask to add on Winter Sports insurance upgrade, or you can buy online and select 'Winter Sports Upgrade'.

Your questions answered

We're sure you'll love our great products but maybe you have a few questions. You can find answers in this section.

Do you need winter sports insurance for trips to Lapland?

If you plan on taking part in any of the activities listed above, such as husky sledge driving, you will need to add the upgrade onto your Admiral Travel Insurance policy

Are there any age restrictions for ski insurance?

We don’t offer the upgrade to anyone over 75 years old for trips within Europe and over 70 years old for trips outside of Europe.

Am I covered to ski or board off-piste?

You can go off-piste provided you go with a qualified guide or instructor and remain on recognised paths, within resort boundaries

Does winter sports cover me anywhere in the world?

Admiral Travel Insurance covers the UK, Europe and Worldwide - but there are places that we don't cover.

Your travel insurance won't cover you if you visit somewhere the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises not to. Information from the FCDO can be found at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice or by calling 020 7008 1500 .

What's covered if the piste closes?

We'll pay up to £20 per 24 hours for each day the pistes and ski lifts are closed in your resort due to lack of snow or bad weather (up to a maximum of £200). This can be used to cover travel expenses to the next open resort or to compensate you if there are no slopes nearby.

Are all winter sports covered?

Our Winter Sports Upgrade covers the following activities: cross country skiing, dry slope skiing and snowboarding, glacier walking/trekking, husky sledge driving, ice hockey, mono-skiing, snowmobiles, sledging, snowshoeing and tobogganing. If you want to take part in an activity not on the list please call us on 0333 234 9913 to discuss.

Am I covered if I’m injured on the slopes and not wearing a helmet?

You won't be covered for any head injuries that happen on your winter sports holiday if you weren't wearing a helmet. We always recommend wearing a helmet for winter sports.

Are lift passes covered?

Unused lift passes due to illness or injury are covered but you can't claim for lost or stolen lift passes

Is mountain and helicopter rescue included?

Yes, our add-on covers mountain and helicopter rescue in the event of injury or illness; search and rescue isn't covered.

Do under 18s need ski insurance?

Yes they do, you can add a child onto a parent or guardian's cover. Take a look at our Family Travel Insurance page for more information.

Can seasonaires buy the winter sports upgrade?

While there's no restriction on seasonaires buying our cover, the add-on's limited to 21 days in total so we couldn't cover a seasonaire for the entire season.

What’s the age limit on winter sports cover?

We cover people up to and including 75 years old in Europe, or 70 years old everywhere else.

What does winter sports travel insurance cover?

Our winter sports travel insurance upgrade covers:

• Delay caused by avalanche
• Replacement equipment hire

You’ll also get all the benefits of the standard travel insurance you bought – our winter sports upgrade gives you extra cover for when you’re skiing or snowboarding.

Can I take out a family winter sports insurance policy?

Absolutely – we offer family holiday insurance for families living at the same address. This can be parents, step-parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and children under 18.

You can add up to two adults and a maximum of five children to the cover. Simply add on our winter sports upgrade for cover on the slopes.

Do I need travel insurance for skiing in Bulgaria?

Yes you’ll need to add our winter sports upgrade onto our European Travel Insurance for any skiing holidays in Bulgaria.

Do I have Personal accident and Personal liability for my Winter sports trip activities?

We cover personal accident up to the policy limits and personal liability cover up to £3 million, for winter sports activities listed in the winter sports cover section of our policy wording except Snowmobile/Ski-Doos which excludes personal accident and personal liability cover. Please note, this cover cannot be added to the Snowmobile/Ski-Doos activity for an additional premium.

Getting the most out of your trip

Going anywhere nice.

Off to one of the destinations below? Take a look at our guides for some hints and tips on what you need to remember.

Travel insurance that suits you

Whether you're travelling solo, with your family, or with a little one on the way, read our guides to make sure our cover is right for you.

Family Travel Insurance

Student travel insurance, travelling while pregnant, travel insurance over 65, travelling with medical conditions, travel insurance upgrades.

Whether you want the adrenaline rush of a skiing holiday, or fancy taking to the seas on a cruise, you'll need to add extra cover to your policy.

Cruise Travel Insurance

Ski travel insurance, gadget travel insurance, adventurous sports insurance, single trip insurance, annual trip insurance.

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Specialist winter sports travel insurance

Planning a winter sports holiday? Look no further… 

In addition to the comprehensive cover benefits of Leisure Guard Travel Insurance, optional winter sports cover is available.

• Simply add Winter Sports Cover to your Travel Insurance policy when you start your quote
• Cover for Ski Equipment and Ski Equipment Hire
• Piste Closure
• Avalanche and Landslide Cover

If you’re planning a winter sports trip make sure you have the right levels of protection in place. Leisure Guard Winter Sports covers you for an array of winter sports including, snowboarding, skiing, tobogganing, bob sledging and many more.

If you purchase the winter sports upgrade on an annual multi trip policy and have paid the additional premium you will have winter sports cover for up to 17 days.

Leisure Guard’s optional winter sports cover includes:

• Ski, ski equipment and ski pass loss (up to £2,000)
• Ski equipment delay (£20 per complete 24 hours, up to a maximum of £200)
• Piste closure (£20 per complete 24 hours, up to a maximum of £240)
• Avalanche or landslide (£20 per complete 24 hours, up to a maximum of £240)

Benefits of Leisure Guard Winter Sports Insurance

• Up to £15,000,000 medical emergency & Repatriation cover
• Up to £7,500 cancellation & curtailment cover
• 24/7 Access to an online doctor at home and whilst overseas
• Ski Equipment and Ski Pass Cover
• Ski Equipment Delay Cover
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Does your travel insurance cover winter sports?

Back Back to Solved

21 December 2022

If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably thinking it’s time for a winter holiday.

Or you may have already booked one and need to check you have the right insurance cover before you go.

Will travel insurance cover me for winter sports?

Travellers sometimes assume they are covered for winter sports as part of their travel insurance, but it is often not the case, meaning thousands of people could be heading to the slopes without any cover. Research from ABTA, the travel trade association, showed that just over one in five (22%) people [1] who have been on a winter sports holiday never check whether they have taken out appropriate insurance for activities like skiing and snowboarding.

You might already have a travel insurance policy, but it’s important to check you have the correct cover when you’re travelling or going on holiday so there are no surprises. Ultimately it means you can relax, as you shouldn’t have any unexpected costs if something does go wrong.

It can cover expenses arising from issues such as:

• Cancelling or cutting short your trip, if it’s for reasons beyond your control
• Disruptions such as delays
• Emergency medical expenses
• Lost or stolen baggage and possessions

A standard travel insurance policy will usually only cover you for low-risk activities. If you’re one of the UK’s estimated 2.2 million active skiers or snowboarders and are planning a trip to the slopes - or you want to take part in another adventurous winter sport - then you’re likely to need an additional winter sports policy.

What does winter sports insurance cover?

Winter sports insurance, also known as ski insurance, is an add-on to standard travel insurance that offers more comprehensive cover. 

Depending on what policy you choose, from which insurer, it may cover the following activities:

• Snowboarding
• Glacier trekking
• Tobogganing
• Sleigh rides
• Snowmobiling
• Dogsledding

Some of the more extreme winter sports such as heli-skiing (off-trail, downhill skiing which you access by a helicopter rather than ski lift) or competitive winter sports, may not be covered, in which case you would need further specialist insurance.

It’s important to check individual policies to see if your chosen activity is covered, as they can all vary. Also, aside from the key activities, do check what else is included in your cover. It might include cover for:

• Replacing equipment, whether you hired it or it belongs to you, such as helmets or skis if lost, damaged or stolen
• If an avalanche or piste closure prevents you from taking part in winter sports activities or simply results in the resort being closed
• Medical costs if you injure yourself 
• Cost of cancelled activities and equipment due to illness or injury
• Off-piste skiing or snowboarding, although policies may stipulate these must be with a qualified instructor

So, if you’re heading off on an active alpine break, be sure to check your insurance cover before travelling. Unexpected medical costs, in particular can be hugely expensive. Once you’ve done this, you can relax in the knowledge that you’re covered for the unexpected and focus on getting ready for a fantastic winter escape!

Go to Solved to read more about how to stay covered at home and on your travels.

[1] https://www.abta.com/news/2-5-million-brits-have-taken-slopes-without-ever-having-winter-sports-travel-insurance

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Winter Sports and Ski Insurance

What is Winter Sports and Ski insurance? 

What does winter sports travel insurance cover? 

With our Winter Sports & Ski travel insurance add-on, you receive the same level of protection you get with our standard travel insurance policies, but with additional cover for unique risks associated with winter sports.

You can choose either a  Single Trip  policy, an   Annual policy or a Backpacker   policy, depending on how you travel. Plus, you also have a choice of a Silver or Gold level of cover.

Please note that our annual policies can only cover you for a maximum of 17 days winter sports cover throughout the year. If you need winter sports cover for longer than 17 days, you'll need to buy a   Single Trip  or a  Backpacker  policy

Depending on which policy and level of cover you choose, you'll be protected against:

• Cancelling or cutting short your trip
• Emergency medical and associated expenses
• Loss of passport
• Delayed personal possessions
• Lost, stolen or damaged personal possessions
• Loss of money
• Personal accident
• Missed departures
• Delayed departures
• Personal liability

Terms and Conditions apply.

In addition to this our Winter Sports and Ski add-on covers you for risks that are unique to skiing holidays. So, depending on which level of cover you choose, you'll also be insured against:

• Unused ski-pack costs
• Delayed, lost, stolen or damaged ski equipment
• Piste closures
• Avalanche closures

Terms and conditions apply. 

Our Winter Sports & Ski add-on gives you even more cover

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• Winter Sports Travel Insurance

Ski and winter sports travel insurance

Whether you’re a regular skier or a complete beginner, accidents can happen on the piste.

Make sure you’re covered by adding mandatory winter sport protection to your travel insurance package. For an extra premium, you’ll be insured for injury, and lost, stolen or damaged equipment. It may even cover you for personal liability or personal accident. Terms and conditions apply.

Protection for skiing and snowboarding, on and off piste

Our winter sports cover gives you extra protection. We'll cover you for a variety of things, including:

• Off-piste skiing and snowboarding (within resort boundaries and in recognised areas)
• Lost, damaged or stolen ski equipment
• Piste closures

So before you hit the slopes, be sure to have all your cover in place. And then you can enjoy the thrill of the downhill.

What’s covered?

Add the winter sports cover option to any Post Office Travel Insurance policy for this extra protection. The cover will cost you an additional premium.

Skiing, snowboarding, airboarding and more

It’s not just skiing and snowboarding. Whether it’s ski-blading, airboarding, skidooing, tobogganing or even snowmobiling, there are plenty of winter sports we can cover you for (1), off piste as well as on (2)

Emergency medical support and evacuation

Your policy includes access to an emergency medical helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You're also covered for repatriation to your home country

Lost, damaged or stolen equipment 

Whether you’ve your own equipment or you’ve hired some, we can cover loss, theft or damage. Terms and conditions apply. Check out our policy wording for details

Piste closure

It can be fun to go up the mountain when the weather’s heavy, but when there’s no snow at all, there’s no point. If the piste is closed because there’s no snow, you could make a claim

All medical conditions considered

Living with a medical condition shouldn’t stop you seeing the world. And, with the right travel insurance in place, you can enjoy peace of mind on your adventures – just in case something unfortunate happens.

At Post Office, we cover most pre-existing conditions. Contact us for a quote to see if we can cover you. It’s important to declare upfront all your medical conditions and any medication you're taking.

If we can't help and yours is a serious pre-existing medical condition, check the  Money and Pensions Scheme (MaPS) directory. It lists companies that may be able to help you. Or call 0800 138 7777 .

Choose a travel insurance cover level

The table shows the maximum cover limits available with ski and winter sports cover for each of our cover levels. You can add ski and winter sports cover for an additional premium.

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Common questions

What is winter sports travel insurance.

Taking part in winter sports can carry much higher risks than those you'll face on other types of holiday. It’s important to make sure that, as well as taking part in winter sports safely and responsibly, you have cover in case something goes wrong. This cover also provides protection for things that can happen to your equipment, such as loss, theft or damage.

Why add winter sports cover?

Whether you have your own equipment or you’re hiring it, replacements can be expensive if they have to come out of your pocket. If you're going on a trip involving winter sports, then adding this cover is mandatory.  It's not just your equipment that needs to be covered but you as well. We can help you if you’re taken ill while on the mountain or get injured, and if the weather decides to dry up and there’s no snow on the piste, we can help restore the balance. 

Isn’t my Ghic or Ehic card enough protection?

UK citizens travelling in EU countries can access some state-provided healthcare there for free or at a reduced cost. You'll need a UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) or, if it’s still in date, a European Health Insurance Card (Ehic).

Remember, neither card covers any additional cost to return you to the UK or for a relative to stay or fly out to be with you. In a medical emergency you may have no control over the hospital you are taken to or the closest hospital may be private. But medical travel insurance may be able to cover some of the cost for you.

Also, Ehic no longer provides access to healthcare services in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland for UK nationals in most cases.

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For emergency medical assistance, to make a claim, find answers to common questions about our cover or get in touch:

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Travel insurance policy types

Single-trip cover.

Single-trip Travel Insurance

• Cover for a one-off trip in the UK or abroad
• Perfect for one-off trips or longer holidays of up to 365 days (3)
• No age limit 

Annual multi-trip cover

• Cover for multiple-trips for a 12-month period 
• 31-day trip limit, with extensions available up to 45 and 60 days
• Available for everyone aged up to 75 years 

Backpacker cover

• Cover for a one-off trip up to 18 months 
• Option to return home for up to 7 days on 3 occasions. 
• For people aged 18 – 60 wanting to travel the world for a gap year or career break 

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About our travel insurance

Post Office® Travel Insurance is arranged by Post Office Limited and Post Office Management Services Limited.

Post Office Limited is an appointed representative of Post Office Management Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 630318. Post Office Limited and Post Office Management Services Limited are registered in England and Wales. Registered numbers 2154540 and 08459718 respectively. Registered Office: 100 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7ER. Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trademarks of Post Office Limited.

These details can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting the Financial Conduct Authority website and searching by Firm Reference Number (FRN).

(1) Limitations may apply.

(2) Within recognised resorts and boundaries.

(3) For economy, standard and premier policies, the single-trip policy will cover you for one trip up to:

365 days for those aged up to and including 70 years

90 days for those aged between 71 and 75

31 days for those aged 76 years and above

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Winter Sports Travel Insurance

Winter sports should be fun for everyone, even if you have a pre-existing medical condition. If you wish to enjoy sports such a skiing or snowboarding on your trip, it's important that you get specialist winter sports travel insurance. Our individually tailored policies cover cancellations and medical expenses.

Page contents

Why do you need travel insurance that covers winter sports, what is covered by winter sports travel insurance, what activities does winter sports travel insurance cover, age limits for winter sports cover, winter sports insurance with pre-existing medical conditions, why more than 3 million people have chosen allclear.

Winter sports travel insurance covers you should you wish to enjoy adventurous sports such a skiing or snowboarding and still want peace of mind whilst on holiday. This type of insurance covers you for medical emergencies, even those related to Covid, which is vital to prevent unexpected medical bills and give you the support you need if you have any medical problems while you are away.

If you’re planning a winter holiday and want full peace of mind, you’ll need to make sure you have Travel Insurance with ski cover in place. Few things ruin a holiday faster than an injury and a costly trip to the hospital. If you need emergency medical treatment and don’t have insurance, bills could be incredibly expensive.

Here’s what to look for when you’re buying Travel Insurance for your winter sports holiday.

Winter sports and other snow-based activities increase the risk of injury and require a lot of specialised equipment and unique venues compared to standard holidays on the beach. All this needs to be factored into your insurance policy.

ABTA research shows that over 3.5 million Brits who have been on a winter sports holiday have never taken out Travel Insurance. The same research found that ABTA Members had reported more than 200 significant injuries caused by collisions and falls on the slopes amongst British holidaymakers in the 2018 ski season.

Proper, high-quality cover for winter sports will help you avoid costly medical bills if you have an accident during your activity, lose or damage your equipment. Without a valid Travel Insurance policy, you could be left out of pocket.

Some insurance providers will offer cover through a dedicated policy or with a special add-on. When applying for a quote with AllClear, add ‘Winter Sports’ in the ‘Extras’ section after you have selected your preferred policy and your quote will adjust accordingly.

Benefits of AllClear Cover

Winter sports equipment – protects the cost of repairing or replacing your equipment up to £500, if yours were to be stolen, lost or damaged during your holiday. We’ll also help with the costs of hiring replacement equipment up to £10 a day. We take into account the age of your items when working out a claim.

Piste closure – we’ll contribute to the cost if you need to travel to another resort to ski or you can’t ski at all because of piste closures caused by a lack of snow.

Ski pack – cover for up to £400 of unused parts of a ski pack you bought before travelling if you’re unable to take part in winter sports because of illness or injury sustained while travelling. You’ll need to be medically certified as being unfit for your activity by a doctor at the resort.

Delayed ski equipment – up to £150 towards hiring replacement equipment if your own equipment is certified by your carrier to have been misplaced for more than 12 hours on the outward journey of your trip.

As above, the sports or activities covered will vary by your insurer. So, you need to check your policy documents carefully and make sure it’s appropriate for your plans.

With an AllClear add-on, the following activities are included:

Inner tubing (in snow)

Skiing (including, off-piste, mono, heli, dry and cross country)

Snowboarding 

Snowmobiling

Snowshoeing 

Sphereing/Zorbing

Tobogganing

If your activity is not included, call us for free on: 0808 281 0561 as we may be able  to add a specific activity to your policy.

It’s important to remember that there may be limitations or other requirements. For example, if you want to ski off-piste, you’ll need to be accompanied by a qualified instructor or guide. This information will be detailed in your policy documents.

Simple 3 step quote process

1. call us or click a quote button on our site, 2. complete our simple medical screening process, 3. get your quotes.

You’ll be given the option to include Winter Sports on most of our policies. A number of our providers will insure you up to and 65 years of age.

If you’re planning to hit the slopes, you must declare any medical conditions when applying for a quote.

Any injuries caused by an existing condition when participating in an activity could mean you aren’t covered if you haven’t declared it. Plus, if you fall ill while travelling because of an existing condition and you haven’t declared it, you’ll have to pay for your time in hospital. In addition to this, you won’t be covered for anything lost on your ski pack.

We can cover over 1300 different medical conditions, and we’re experts in Medical Travel Insurance since the year 2000. If you declare all your conditions, your insurer agrees to cover them, and the activity is included in your policy, you’ll be covered for the costs of your treatment and other expenses.

We compare cover from up to 61 insurance providers, and 98% of customers have rated us ‘Good’ or better at being helpful and friendly. [1]

“AllClear Gold is simply the best travel cover I have found.”

Even 2 years after having been declared to be in remission from cancer i found many companies would not insure me to go skiing, but with allclear it was a breeze – and best of all it wasn’t expensive. i’ve been using allclear for over 8 years and would never look anywhere else now. when i had a skiing accident 3 years ago they were fantastic and provided me with an excellent service getting me home safely, organising assistance at the airport etc. highly recommend their services ”, sarah harbord – trustpilot, read allclear trustpilot reviews.

We hope you found this information helpful and you enjoy your time on the slopes!

If you’d like to start a quote, click the quote now button below.

[1] From 450 responses.

Written by: Russell Wallace | Travel Insurance Expert Last Updated: 24 November 2023

[1] Based on Trustpilot reviews of all companies in the Travel Insurance Company category that have over 30,000 reviews as of January 2023.

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Winter Sports Travel Insurance

• Unlimited access to HealthHero - our 24/7 video or telephone GP helpline based in the UK.
• Providing cover if your ski equipment is damaged, stolen, lost or destroyed on your trip. This includes equipment you own and equipment you’ve hired.
• Covering the cost of extra transport and accommodation if you cannot reach your destination or get back home because of an avalanche.
• Protection against the closure of ski lifts, ski schools and piste at your resort due to weather.

What is Winter Sports and Ski insurance? 

What does our winter sports & ski travel insurance cover.

With our ski insurance add-on, you receive the same level of protection you get with our standard travel insurance policies, but with additional cover for unique risks associated with winter sports. You can add winter sports cover to your policy to protect yourself and your equipment when taking part in sports like skiing and snowboarding.

With our ski travel insurance, you get all the great benefits of our Silver or Gold policies, depending on which level of winter sports insurance cover you choose. You can choose either a Single Trip policy, an Annual policy or a Backpacker   policy, depending on how you travel. These policies will include cover for:

• Cancelling or curtailing your trip
• Emergency medical and associated expenses
• Loss of passport*
• Delayed personal possessions
• Lost, stolen or damaged personal possessions*
• Loss of personal money*
• Personal accident cover
• Missed departures
• Delayed departures
• Personal liability
• Legal expenses
• End-supplier failure**

We no longer be offer travel insurance policies to cover people's pre-existing medical conditions. This is only a temporary measure due to the improvements we are making to our online booking engine. Please keep an eye on the Allianz Assistance website in the future so you are aware when we are able to offer this additional cover again.

Our Winter Sports and Ski add-on gives you even more cover. In addition to the above, you’ll be protected against:

• Avalanche closure: We’ll cover the cost of extra transport and accommodation (up to your payment limit) if you cannot reach your destination or get back home because of an avalanche.
• Ski-pack costs: If you have to cancel your trip, cut it short or you cannot ski due to injury or illness, we’ll cover your ski-pack costs up to the amount shown in your policy documents. This includes the cost of hired ski equipment, ski-school fees and lift passes.
• Delayed ski equipment: We’ll provide cover for alternative ski equipment if yours is stolen or delayed for more than 12 hours from when you arrive at your destination.
• Ski equipment: We’ll provide cover if your ski equipment is damaged, stolen, lost or destroyed on your trip. This includes equipment you own and equipment you’ve hired.
• Piste closure: If the ski lifts and ski schools at your resort are closed because of the weather, we’ll pay up to the amount shown in your schedule for the cost of extra transport or lift passes to let you ski or snowboard at another resort; or as compensation if no other resort is available.
• *Not available with Bronze level cover
• **Only available with Gold level cover
• Terms and Conditions apply.  

Our Winter Sports & Ski add-on gives you even more cover

Swipe to view more

Annual Multi-Trip Silver with Ski

Single trip gold with ski, backpacker with ski, frequently asked questions.

When you head away on a skiing or winter sports holiday, you’ll likely encounter risks that you wouldn’t on a regular trip; these things aren’t usually covered by a standard travel insurance policy.

But, with specialist winter sports travel insurance, you’re covered against things like piste closure, avalanches and emergency medical expenses. Plus, your equipment is covered, so there’s no need to worry about it getting lost or damaged.

Whether you’re taking on the thrill of a Black Run in Klosters or snowboarding in Whistler, our winter sports insurance covers you, so you can test your skills or learn a new hobby with confidence.

The best winter sports insurance policies cover you for far more than just skiing. When you purchase our Winter Sports and Ski add-on, you’ll be covered for the following activities – providing that you’re not taking part as a professional, or as part of a race or competition:

• Bigfoot skiing
• Cross-country skiing
• Glacier skiing
• Mono-skiing
• Snowboarding
• Snowblading
• Tobogganing

Please note that off-piste skiing and snowboarding are only covered by our winter sports travel insurance policies when you are skiing within the ski-area boundaries of a recognised ski resort, and following ski-patrol guidelines.

Whether you’re looking for travel insurance for skiing in France or somewhere further afield, at Allianz Assistance, we’ve got you covered.

If you’re looking for travel insurance for skiing in Europe, select the European country you're travelling to for our Single Trip cover.

For our Annual policy, you should choose our ‘Europe’ cover. This means you’re covered in the European countries listed in our policy documents, so you’ll get to enjoy some of the most popular places in the world for a winter sports break – like St. Moritz in Switzerland, Borovets in Bulgaria and Chamonix in France.

If you choose ‘Worldwide (excluding USA and Canada)’, the area of cover is anywhere in the world except the USA and Canada. This is a great option if you’re looking to travel to some of the world’s most impressive resorts, like the four ski resorts within an easy drive of Queenstown, New Zealand. If you prefer, you can even take a holiday to Niseko in Japan, which is widely regarded as being one of the snowiest places on the planet. 

If you choose ‘Worldwide (including USA and Canada)’, the area of cover is any country in the world, so you can explore far-flung ski resorts like Whistler Blackcomb in Canada. 

Although the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can currently help to protect you on your break, it doesn’t offer comprehensive cover.

For example, neither your EHIC nor your GHIC will cover the cost of medical treatment in a private hospital, mountain rescue or repatriation to the UK. As a result, if you don’t have winter sports cover and you have an accident in a ski resort, you’ll have to pay for mountain rescue and repatriation to a UK hospital, which could cost tens of thousands of pounds. 

We’re sure that you’ll take all possible precautions before you hit the slopes, but unfortunately accidents do still happen. So, before you embark on your winter sports holiday, you should pack your EHIC or GHIC and consider taking out travel insurance too. This way, even if something does go wrong, you’re covered. 

Winter sports safety tips

Taking part in winter sports like skiing and snowboarding comes with some risks, so make sure you take steps to prevent accidents on the slopes.

• Wear a helmet - Protect yourself from serious head injuries when taking part in winter sports, many ski resorts make helmets mandatory for these activities
• Wear appropriate clothing - You'll want to invest in a good waterproof ski jacket and trousers to keep you warm enough and to help you stay dry when you land in the snow.
• Stay in the roped areas - Going outside of the designated resort boundaries can put you at risk of getting lost or caught in an avalanche, especially if you're inexperienced.
• Wear sunscreen - Though most of your body will be covered, you'll want to avoid the dreaded skier's sunburn on your face so be sure to keep topping up the sun lotion for any exposed areas.

How to ensure you have the right cover

Does your bank or credit card company provide cover.

Many bank accounts and credit cards come with some level of travel insurance cover. While some may be comprehensive, they may not cover you for everything you have planned whilst you’re away, particularly if you have adventurous plans or unusual excursions booked. 

Make sure you look into the travel insurance policy that you have before every trip, to make sure it’s suitable for you and your plans.

Purchasing a holiday using a credit card means you are often protected by Consumer Protection cover. In most cases, it allows you to get your money returned to you if your provider defaults and you cannot travel.

Are you covered by ABTA or ATOL?

If you have booked a holiday through a tour operator or travel agent, it may be worth checking if you are covered by ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) or ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s License). This type of cover means that your package holiday is protected if, for example, the travel company providing your holiday arrangements or the travel agent themselves fail financially or close down.

Your travel agents will be able to tell you if your holiday is ABTA or ATOL protected. Alternatively, use the links provided to check your cover at home.

What is an EHIC or GHIC and what can it offer you?

Looking for more cover? Here's what else we offer:

Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

Single Trip Travel Insurance

Family Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for Medical Conditions

Sports & Leisure Travel Insurance

Popular ski and winter sports destinations

Travel Insurance for Bulgaria

Travel Insurance for France

Travel Insurance for Europe

Policy documents

You'll need your policy number to submit your claim to us. This is available in your certificate of insurance which is sent to you when you take out cover. 

It's a good idea to take your policy information with you on your trip so you can provide us with all the necessary details in order for us to help.

Claims assessment

Once we receive your claim, it'll be assessed by our experienced team. 

To speed up the assessment of your claim please make sure to include all applicable information and evidence such as receipts, booking confirmations, hotel reservations and crime reference numbers. If you fail to provide all the necessary information this will cause a delay in processing your claim. 

Your claims outcome

Once our team has assessed your claim we'll be in touch with you via your preferred contact method to confirm the outcome and inform you of any next steps.

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Make A Claim?

Policy documents.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition that we are unable cover under our own policies, you may be able to obtain an alternative travel insurance policy through one of the providers  featured in the MoneyHelper  directory  of specialist travel insurance providers for people with serious medical conditions. Do take time to study and compare the terms and conditions to ensure you have the cover you need. To contact the Money Advice Service for further details of the directory

Call: 0800 138 7777 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or Email: [email protected]

Winter Sports and Ski Travel Insurance

Simple Insurance, there for you in your time of need.

Whether it's Courchevel in France or Zermatt in Switzerland, we have the right winter sports cover for your trip!

What does our winter sports and ski insurance cover?

Please see our policy wording for full details.

If your equipment is owned or hired, our winter sports cover protects against any loss, theft or damage suffered.

Protection against accidents should you need medical treatment while skiing or snowboarding.

Your covered if the piste is closed due to a lack of snow or as a result of mountain rescues.

You're covered if your trip is disrupted due to an avalanche, landslide or adverse weather.

Are you planning to travel more than once? Buy an Annual Multi-Trip policy today!

Winter sports and ski insurance.

If you are traveling on abroad for a skiing or snowboarding holiday, our winter sports add-on to your travel insurance policy is a must have. Our winter sports add-on covers you for a range of common activities as well as lost, damaged or stolen equipment and piste closure!

Optional Add-ons

Winter sports, cruise cover, enhanced covid-19 cover, enhanced gadget cover, excess waiver, wedding cover, rental vehicle excess waiver.

For full details of what is covered, please see the Policy Wording . Terms and conditions apply

Travel Insurance from Oasis

Winter Sports Travel Insurance

Great value cover for a range of activities including lost, damaged or stolen ski equipment and piste closure.

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Cruise cover whether you are a family or couple, including missed port, cabin confinement and personal baggage.

Family Travel Insurance

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Winter sports cover

Extra protection for hitting the slopes

Underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited

We’re here if it all goes downhill

Whether you’re an avid snowboarder or planning your first ski trip to the Alps, make sure you’re protected with our winter sports cover add-on.

We can help cover the costs of medical emergencies, piste closure and lost or damaged snow sports equipment. With Sainsbury’s Bank, you’ll have peace of mind that you could be covered if your alpine adventure takes a wrong turn down a slippery slope.

How does winter sports insurance cover work?

With Sainsbury’s Bank, you can add it on to your  travel insurance policy  to cover most winter sports activities.

So, whether you’re zooming down the slopes or enjoying après ski, your winter travel insurance will include cover for:

Medical emergencies

Cancellation or having to cut your trip short

Lost, damaged or stolen baggage

Our winter sports cover also has a range of benefits to protect you and your equipment. This includes cover for:

Lost, stolen or damaged snow sports equipment

Hiring replacement equipment if yours is lost, damaged or delayed

Your unused equipment hire or tuition fees if you’re sick or have an accident

Your ski pass if it’s lost or stolen

Extra transport or accommodation in the event of an avalanche or landslide at your resort

Physiotherapy treatment when you return to the UK if you’ve had an accident

Compensation if the slopes in your resort are closed due to weather conditions

Winter sports cover policy limits

With  Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Insurance , you can choose from three levels of cover – Silver, Gold and Platinum.

If your claim is successful, we’ll pay you up to the amount shown below.

Terms, conditions, excesses and limitations apply. You can find out more about the terms of our cover in our  policy booklet .

Some exclusions

While we’ll do what we can to give you complete protection, it’s important to remember that no insurance policy covers everything.

For example , even with the winter sports add-on, our insurance does not cover:

• Anyone older than 66 years of age
• Any claim as a result of off-piste skiing where you’re not accompanied by a qualified instructor with appropriate liability insurance
• Any claim as a result of taking part in winter sports activities during avalanche warnings
• Damage to winter sports equipment caused by normal wear and tear, gradual deterioration, or mechanical or electrical breakdown
• Loss or theft of winter sports equipment or ski passes left unattended in a public place
• Loss or theft of winter sports equipment or ski passes that was not reported to the police as soon as possible

What winter sports are covered?

Need off-piste ski insurance or snowboarding insurance? You’ve come to the right place. We can protect when you’re taking part in the following winter sports:

• On-piste skiing or snowboarding
• Off-piste skiing or snowboarding where you’re accompanied by an insured instructor
• Cross-country skiing on recognised routes and with a guide
• Ski racing arranged by ski schools for pupils

Are any snow sports not covered?

There are some riskier winter activities that we don’t cover. These include:

• Bobsleighing
• Heli-skiing
• Ski acrobatics
• Ski jumping
• Skeleton sledding

Don’t see your planned winter sports activity listed? Not to worry. Give our customer helpline a call on 0345 305 2622^ to see if it’s covered by your policy.

Planning more than one trip?

If you’re a regular on the slopes, you may be better off taking out our  Annual Multi-trip travel insurance .

You’ll be covered up to a maximum of 24 days a year for winter sports and could save time and money, rather than buying a policy for each trip.

Get a travel insurance quote

Ready to get your ski holiday insurance? With our optional winter sports cover, you can focus on enjoying your adrenaline-fuelled adventure.

And with up to 20% off for Nectar members, you’ll get peace of mind and protection for less. Exclusions apply*

Helpful travel guides

Whether you’re going on a family ski trip with the kids or an epic solo snowboarding adventure, check out our useful travel guides.

Dealing with disruption

What to do if your flight to the slopes is delayed or cancelled.

Flying with children

Tips to make travelling with babies and toddlers stress-free.

Keeping your money safe

Get advice on how to look after money, cards and valuables abroad.

Any questions?  

Check out our most  frequently asked questions about travel insurance . If you still need to talk to us, our friendly team will be happy to help. 

Call 0345 305 2621^ 

^Sales and service lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekend and Bank Holidays. Calls may be monitored or recorded. Calls are charged at local rates from landlines and mobiles.

Helpful phone numbers

Terms and conditions

*Up to 20% discount applies when you tell us your Nectar card number. Discount does not apply to premiums for pre-existing medical conditions or enhanced gadget cover. You won't be eligible if you buy through a price comparison website. We reserve the right to change or cancel this offer without notice.

Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting; register.fca.org.uk.

Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Hood Travel Limited, registered at Companies House 08318836. Hood Travel is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 597211. Hood Travel Limited’s registered address is at 2nd Floor, Decora Court, Tylers Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 2BB.

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Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Travel Insurance

Cheapest travel insurance of April 2024

Mandy Sleight

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 9:52 a.m. UTC April 11, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

WorldTrips is the best cheap travel insurance company of 2024 based on our in-depth analysis of the cheapest travel insurance plans. Its Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier plans offer affordable travel insurance with high limits for emergency medical and evacuation benefits bundled with good coverage for trip delays, travel inconvenience and missed connections.

Cheapest travel insurance of 2024

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of travel insurance experts analyzes hundreds of insurance products and thousands of data points to help you find the best travel insurance for your next trip. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content . You can read more about our methodology below.

• 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
• 567 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Best cheap travel insurance

Top-scoring plans

Average cost, medical limit per person, medical evacuation limit per person, why it’s the best.

WorldTrips tops our rating of the cheapest travel insurance with two plans:

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheaper travel insurance plan of the two, with $100,000 per person in emergency medical benefits as secondary coverage and an optional upgrade to primary coverage. It’s also our pick for the best travel insurance for cruises .
• Atlas Journey Premier costs a little more but gives you $150,000 in travel medical insurance with primary coverage . This is a good option if health insurance for international travel is a priority.

Pros and cons

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheapest of our 5-star travel insurance plans.
• Atlas Journey Premier offers $150,000 in primary medical coverage.
• Both plans have top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Each plan offers travel inconvenience coverage of $750 per person.
• 12 optional upgrades, including destination wedding and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Cheap travel insurance for cruises

Travel insured.

Top-scoring plan

Travel Insured offers cheap travel insurance for cruises and its Worldwide Trip Protector plan gets 4 stars in our rating of the best cruise travel insurance .

• Worldwide Trip Protector offers $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and a rare $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits, which means you won’t have to file medical claims with your health insurance first.
• Cheap trip insurance for cruises.
• Offers a rare $150,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• $500 per person baggage delay benefit only requires a 3-hour delay.
• Optional rental car damage benefit up to $50,000.
• Missed connection benefit of $500 per person only available for cruises and tours.

Best cheap travel insurance for families

Travelex has the best cheap travel insurance for families because kids age 17 are covered by your policy for free when they’re traveling with you.

• Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
• $2,000 travel delay coverage per person ($250 per day) after 5 hours.
• Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
• Only $50,000 per person emergency medical coverage.
• Baggage delay coverage is only $200 and requires a 12-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for seniors

Evacuation limit per person

Nationwide has the best cheap travel insurance for seniors — its Prime plan gets 4 stars in our best senior travel insurance rating. However, Nationwide’s Cruise Choice plan ranks higher in our best cheap travel insurance rating.

• Cruise Choice has a $500 per person benefit if a cruise itinerary change causes you to miss a prepaid excursion. It also has a missed connections benefit of $1,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay, for cruises or tours. But note that this coverage is secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier.
• Coverage for cruise itinerary changes, ship-based mechanical breakdowns and covered shipboard service disruptions.
• Non-medical evacuation benefit of $25,000 per person.
• Baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person.
• Travel medical coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation benefit for losing your job requires three years of continuous employment.
• No “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade available.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person is only for tours and cruises, after a 3-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for add-on options

AIG offers the best cheap travel insurance for add-on options because the Travel Guard Preferred plan allows you to customize your policy with a host of optional upgrades.

• Travel Guard Preferred upgrades include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings. There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million.
• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your affordable travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Best cheap travel insurance for missed connections

TravelSafe has the best cheap travel insurance for missed connections because coverage is not limited to cruises and tours, as it is with many policies.

• Best-in-class $2,500 per person in missed connection coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation and $25,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Generous $2,500 per person baggage and personal items loss benefit.
• Most expensive of the best cheap travel insurance plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage available.
• Weak baggage delay coverage of $250 per person after 12 hours.

Cheapest travel insurance comparison

How much does the cheapest travel insurance cost?

The cheapest travel insurance in our rating is $334. This is for a WorldTrips Atlas Journey Preferred travel insurance plan, based on the average of seven quotes for travelers of various ages to international destinations with a range of trip values.  

Factors that determine travel insurance cost

There are several factors that determine the cost of travel insurance, including:

• Age and number of travelers being insured.
• Trip length.
• Total trip cost.
• The travel insurance plan you choose.
• The travel insurance company.
• Any add-ons, features or upgraded benefits you include in the travel insurance plan.

Expert tip: “In general, travelers can expect to pay anywhere from 4% to 10% of their total prepaid, non-refundable trip costs,” said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip.

Is buying the cheapest travel insurance a good idea?

Choosing cheaper travel insurance without paying attention to what a plan covers and excludes could leave you underinsured for your trip. Comparing travel insurance plans side-by-side can help ensure you get enough coverage to protect yourself financially in an emergency for the best price. 

For example, compare these two Travelex travel insurance plans:

• Travel Basic is cheaper but it only provides up to $15,000 for emergency medical expense coverage. You’ll also have to pay extra for coverage for children.
• Travel Select will cost you a bit more but it covers up to $50,000 in medical expenses and includes coverage for kids aged 17 and younger traveling with you. It also offers upgrades such additional medical coverage, “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage and an adventure sports rider that may be a good fit for your trip.

Reasons to consider paying more for travel insurance 

Make sure you understand what you’re giving up if you buy the cheapest travel insurance. Here are a few reasons you may consider paying a little extra for better coverage. 

• Emergency medical. The best travel medical insurance offers primary coverage for emergency medical benefits. Travel insurance with primary coverage can cost more than secondary coverage but will save you from having to file a claim with your health insurance company before filing a travel insurance claim.
• Emergency evacuation. If you’re traveling to a remote location or planning a boat excursion on your trip, look at travel insurance with a high medical evacuation insurance limit. If you are injured while traveling, transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility could cost in the tens to hundreds of thousands. It may make sense to pay more for travel insurance with robust emergency evacuation coverage. 
• Flexibility. To maximize your trip flexibility, you might consider upgrading your travel insurance to “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage . This will increase the cost of your travel insurance but allow you to cancel your trip for any reason — not just those listed in your policy. The catch is that you’ll need to cancel at least 48 hours before your trip and will only be reimbursed 50% or 75% of your trip expenses, depending on the plan. 
• Upgrades. Many travel insurance plans have optional extras like car rental collision and adventure sports (which may otherwise be excluded from coverage). These will cost you extra but may give you the coverage you need. 

How to find the cheapest travel insurance

The best way to find the cheapest travel insurance is to determine what you’re looking for in a travel insurance policy and compare plans that meet your needs.

 “Travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every trip is different, and every traveler has different needs, wants and concerns. This is why comparison is key,” said Morrow.

Consider the following factors when comparing cheap travel insurance plans.

• How often you’re traveling. A single-trip policy may be the most cost-effective if you’re only going on a single trip this year. But a multi-trip travel insurance plan may be cheaper if you’re going on multiple international trips throughout the year. Annual travel insurance policies cover you for a whole year as long as each trip doesn’t exceed a certain number of days, usually 30 to 90 days. 
• Credit card has travel insurance benefits. The best credit cards offer perks and benefits, and many offer travel insurance-specific benefits. The coverage types and benefit limits can vary, and you must put the entire trip cost on the credit card to use the coverage. If your trip costs more than the coverage limit on your card, you can supplement the rest with a cheaper travel insurance plan.
• The coverage you need. When looking for the best travel insurance option at the most affordable price, only buy extras and upgrades you really need. A basic plan may only provide up to $500 in baggage insurance, but if you only plan to take $300 worth of clothes and accessories, you don’t need to pay more for higher coverage limits.

Is cheap travel insurance worth it?

Cheap travel insurance can be worth it, as long as you understand the plan limitations and exclusions. Taking the time to read your policy, especially the fine print, well before your trip can ensure there won’t be any surprises about what’s covered once your journey begins.

“If a traveler is looking for coverage for travel delays, cancellations, interruptions, medical and baggage — a comprehensive travel insurance policy will provide the most bang for their buck,” said Morrow. But if you’re on a tight budget and are only worried about emergency medical care and evacuation coverage while traveling abroad, stand-alone options are cheaper.

Before buying travel insurance, you should also consider what your health insurance will cover. 

“Most domestic health insurance plans, including Medicare, will not cover medical bills abroad,” said Morrow. Even if you’re staying stateside, you may find value in an affordable travel insurance plan with medical coverage if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). 

A cheap travel insurance plan is better than none at all if you end up in a situation that would have covered some or all of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance . From those top-scoring travel insurance plans, we chose the most affordable for our rating of the cheapest travel insurance.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

• Cost: 40 points. We scored the average cost of each travel insurance policy for a variety of trips and traveler profiles.
• Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
• Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
• Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
• Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
• Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

Cheapest travel insurance FAQs

When buying travel insurance, cheapest is not always the best. The most affordable travel insurance plans typically offer fewer coverages with lower policy limits and few or no optional upgrades. Add up your total nonrefundable trip costs and compare travel insurance plans and available features that cover your travel expenses. This strategy can help you find the cheapest travel insurance policy that best protects you from financial loss if an unforeseen circumstance arises.

Get the coverage you need: Best travel insurance of 2024

According to our analysis, WorldTrips , Travel Insured International and Travelex offer the best cheap travel insurance. Policy coverage types and limits can vary by each travel insurance provider, so the best way to get the cheapest travel insurance plan is to compare several policies and companies to find the right fit for your budget.

A good rate for travel insurance depends on your budget and coverage needs. The most comprehensive travel insurance plan is usually not the cheapest. But cheap trip insurance may not have enough coverage or the types of coverage you want. Comparing different levels of coverage and how much they cost can help you find the best cheap insurance for travel. 

The average cost of travel insurance is between 5% to 6% of your total travel expenses for one trip, according to our analysis of rates. However, you may find cheaper travel insurance if you opt for a plan with fewer benefits or lower coverage limits. How much you pay for travel insurance will also depend on the number of travelers covered, their ages, the length of the trip and any upgrades you add to your plan.

Travel insurance covers nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs — up to the policy coverage limits — when your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason outlined in your plan documents. Even the cheapest travel insurance policies usually provide coverage for:

• Medical emergencies.
• Trip delays.
• Trip interruption.
• Trip cancellation.
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage.

However, if you’re looking to save on travel insurance, you can shop for a policy that only has travel medical insurance and does not include benefits for trip cancellation .

Even when you buy cheap travel insurance, you can often use upgrade options to customize your policy to meet your specific needs. 

Some common travel insurance add-ons you may want to consider include:

• Rental car damage coverage. 
• Medical bundle.
• Security bundle.
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Adventure sports bundle.
• Pet bundle.
• Wedding bundle.
• “Cancel for work reasons” coverage.
• “Interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage.
• “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage .

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Understanding What Travel Insurance Covers

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• Travel insurance is intended to cover risks and financial losses associated with traveling.
• Coverage can include trip cancellation, baggage protection, medical care, and emergency evacuation.
• When filing a claim, be specific and comprehensive in your documentation to ease the process.

Whether it's a trip across the world or a trip across the state, having travel insurance provides major relief if things go awry. Flight delays, lost baggage, illness, injuries, and other unforeseen events can disrupt even the best-laid plans. With a major disruption comes the potential for unanticipated expenses.

Travel insurance and the coverage it offers can help keep you protected and save you money in the long run.

Overview of Travel Insurance Coverage

Travel insurance policies protect travelers from financial losses should something go wrong during their trip. You can customize which coverages you want to include, and there are several to choose from.

"Common types of coverage include trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage protection, coverage for medical care if you get sick or hurt during your trip, and emergency medical evacuation," says Angela Borden, a travel insurance expert and product strategist for travel insurance company Seven Corners.

Travel insurance plans offer nonrefundable payments and other trip-related expenses. While monetary compensation is a primary benefit, there is another valuable perk of travel insurance. It can provide peace of mind.

What does travel insurance cover?

Your specific travel insurance plan (and its terms and conditions) will determine the minutia and specifics of what is covered. As with most other forms of insurance, a general rule of thumb is the more you spend, the better your coverage.

"Travel insurance can be confusing, so it's best to research a reputable company that specializes in travel insurance and has a long history of successfully helping travelers all over the world," says Borden.

Trip cancellation and interruptions

A travel insurance policy can reimburse you for a prepaid, nonrefundable trip if it is canceled for a covered event, such as a natural disaster or a global pandemic.

Trip interruption insurance covers you if you're already on your trip and you get sick, there's a natural disaster, or something else happens. Make sure to check with your travel insurance providers to discuss any inclusions, coverage, and more.

Travel delays and missed connections

Travel delay insurance coverage provides reimbursement for any expenses you incur when you experience a delay in transit over a minimum time. Reimbursements can include hotels, airfare, food, and other related expenses.

Medical emergencies and evacuations

Typically, US healthcare plans are not accepted in other countries. So travel insurance with medical coverage can be particularly beneficial when you are abroad. Medical coverage can also help with locating doctors and healthcare facilities.

Medical transportation coverage will also pay for emergency evacuation expenses such as airlifts and medically-equipped flights back to the US. Out of pocket, these expenses can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Certain plans may even transport you to a hospital of choice for care.

Travel insurance generally does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions. That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver, which we will talk about later.  

Baggage and personal belongings

Most airlines will reimburse travelers for lost or destroyed baggage, but be prepared for limitations. Travel insurance plans will typically cover stolen items, such as those stolen out of a hotel room. This may not include expensive jewelry, antiques, or heirloom items. Typically, airlines have a few days to recover your bag.

In the meantime, you can make a claim to pay for items like certain toiletries and other items you need to pick up. If your bag is truly lost or you don't get it for an extended period, you can file a true lost baggage claim.

What does credit card travel insurance cover?

A major perk on several travel credit cards is embedded credit card travel insurance . Typically, you will need to use the specific card for the transaction (at least with partial payment) for travel coverage to kick in.

Each card has specific rules on what exactly is covered. But one of the industry leaders is the $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Here's a snapshot of what is covered with this specific card:

• Baggage delay: up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to five days if a passenger carrier delays your baggage by more than six hours.
• Lost and damaged baggage: up to $3,000 per passenger per trip, but only up to $500 per passenger for jewelry and watches and up to $500 per passenger for cameras and other electronic equipment.
• Trip delay reimbursement: up to $500 per ticket if you're delayed more than six hours or require an overnight stay.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection: up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Medical evacuation benefit: up to $100,000 for necessary emergency evacuation and transportation when on a trip of five to 60 days and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Travel accident insurance: accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $100,000 (up to $1,000,000 for common carrier travel).
• Emergency medical and dental benefits: up to $2,500 for medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible) when on a trip arranged by a travel agency and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Rental car coverage: primary coverage for damages caused by theft or collision up to $75,000 on rentals of 31 days or fewer

More protections are included with cards with an annual fee, but there are exceptions. The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex , for instance, includes up to $1,500 per person (and up to $6,000 per trip) in trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.

However, there are some differences between credit card travel coverage and obtaining coverage from a third party.

"Credit card coverage does not typically provide travel medical benefits," Borden says. "For protection if you get sick or hurt while traveling, you'll want a travel insurance plan with medical coverage."

Whether you get your travel insurance in a standalone policy or through a credit card, it's important to review your plan details carefully. In either case, there may be exclusions and other requirements such as deadlines when filing a claim, Borden notes.

What travel insurance coverage do you need to pay more for?

Knowing what travel insurance doesn't cover is as important as knowing what it does cover.

"Travelers should understand that travel insurance benefits come into play only if a covered reason occurs," Borden says. Most standard travel insurance plans won't reimburse you for the following:

Cancel for any reason (CFAR)

Cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance covers a trip cancellation for any reason, not just a covered event. your standard benefits won't kick in unless it's a covered event. For instance, you'll be reimbursed simply for changing your mind about taking a trip.

That said, CFAR travel insurance is not without its downsides. For one, it's more expensive than traditional insurance, and most CFAR policies will only reimburse you for a percentage of your travel expenses. Additionally, CFAR policies aren't available for annual travel insurance . 

You can find our guide on the best CFAR travel insurance here.

Foreseen weather events

Sudden storms or unforeseen weather events are typically covered by standard travel insurance plans. There are exceptions to be aware of. For example, an anticipated and named hurricane will not be covered.

Medical tourism

If you're going to travel internationally for a medical procedure or doctor's visit, your travel insurance plan will not cover the procedure itself. Most medical travel plans also won't cover you if something goes wrong with your procedure.

Pre-existing conditions and pregnancy

Those with specific pre-existing conditions, such as someone with diabetes and needing more insulin, will not be covered by most plans. In addition, pregnancy-related expenses will likely not be covered under most plans.

That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver for stable conditions. In order to obtain a wavier, you will need to purchase travel insurance within a certain time frame from when you booked your trip, usually two to three weeks, depending on your policy.

Extreme sports and activities

Accidents occurring while participating in extreme sports like skydiving and paragliding will typically not be covered under most plans. However, many plans offer the ability to upgrade to a higher-priced version with extended coverage.

Navigating claims and assistance

When a trip goes awry, the first thing you should do is document everything and be as specific as possible with documentation. This will make the claims process easier, as you can substantiate and quantify your financial losses due to the delay.

For example, your flight home has been delayed long enough to be covered under your policy, you'll want to keep any receipts from purchases made while waiting. For instances where your luggage is lost, you will need to file a report with local authorities and document all the items you packed.

Cancellation protection also requires meticulous attention to detail. If you're too sick to fly, you may need to see a doctor to prove your eligibility. If an airline cancels a flight, you'll also need to document any refunds you received as travel insurance isn't going to reimburse you for money you've already gotten back. 

Part of the benefit of CFAR insurance is the reduced paperwork necessary to file a claim. You'll still need to document your nonrefundable losses, but you won't have to substantiate why you're canceling a trip.

Choosing the right travel insurance

Each plan should be personalized to meet the insured party's needs. Some travelers prefer to stick to the bare minimum (flight cancellation benefits through the airline). Others want a comprehensive plan with every coverage possible. Before you buy anything, set your destination. Are there any travel restrictions or changes pending? Does your destination country require emergency or other medical coverage?

If the destination airport is known for lost or delayed luggage, travelers should keep important items in carry-ons. Lost or delayed luggage coverage protects insured parties in the event of a significant delay or total loss.

Second, check current credit card travel benefits to avoid redundancies. Savvy travelers don't need to pay for the same coverage twice.

Finally, consider your individual needs. Do you have a chronic medical condition, or do you feel safe with emergency-only medical coverage? Keep in mind, this does not include coverage for cosmetic surgery or other medical tourism. Do you have a budget limit for travel insurance? Asking and answering these important questions will help every traveler find the right product.

Most travel insurance plans are simple, and Business Insider's guide to the best travel insurance companies outlines our top picks. Remember, read your policy and its specifics closely to ensure it includes the items you need coverage for.

No one likes to dwell on how a trip might not go as planned before even leaving. However, at its core, travel insurance provides peace of mind as you go about your trip. While the upfront cost may seem significant, when you compare it to the potential expenses of a canceled flight, emergency evacuation, or a hefty medical bill, it's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

Get Travel Insurance Quotes Online

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What does travel insurance cover frequently asked questions

Does travel insurance cover trip cancellations due to a pandemic like covid-19.

Coverage for pandemics vary from policy to policy. Some travel insurance companies have specific provisions for pandemic-related cancellations, while others may exclude them entirely.

Are sports injuries covered under travel insurance?

Sports injuries are often covered under travel insurance, but high-risk or adventure sports might require additional coverage or a special policy.

Can travel insurance provide coverage for travel advisories or warnings?

Travel advisories have different effects on your travel insurance depending on your policy. Traveling to a country already under travel advisory may invalidate your coverage, but if you're already traveling when a travel advisory is announced, you may be covered.

How does travel insurance handle emergency medical evacuations?

Travel insurance usually covers the cost of emergency medical evacuations to the nearest suitable medical facility, and sometimes back to your home country, if necessary.

Are lost or stolen passports covered by travel insurance?

Many travel insurance policies provide coverage for the cost of replacing lost or stolen passports during a trip.

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