Ski travel insurance and winter sports cover

Medical emergencies from winter sports, such as ski accidents, are only covered if you’ve added our ski and winter sports add-on to your policy.

If you haven't added winter sports, you'll still be covered for medical emergencies - just as long as they’re not directly related to winter sports.

Reindeer-drawn sleigh rides are included as a standard activity with our travel insurance, so you won’t need to take out winter sports cover if this is the only activity you’ll be doing.

If you're planning on taking a sleigh ride drawn by a husky dog (and aren't planning on taking the reins), we can still cover you, but we won't cover you for any Personal Accident or Personal Liability claims.

You won’t be covered for the following activities on any of our travel insurance policies:

• Bobsleigh
• Freestyle skiing
• Heli-skiing
• Ice hockey
• Ice sailing/ice windsurfing
• Luge
• Off-piste skiing or snowboarding (outside recognised and authorised areas)
• Paraskiing
• Skeleton, ski jumping, ski racing, ski slope or ski stunting
• Skidoo
• Snowmobiling

If you’re planning to take part in an activity that isn’t listed here, please get in touch.

You’ll only be covered by your winter sports travel insurance if resort authorities classify the avalanche risk as 1 or 2. You won’t be covered if you participate in activities in areas with an avalanche rating of 3 or higher.

Resort authorities classify avalanche risk as follows:

• 1 = Low
• 2 = Moderate
• 3 = Considerable
• 4 = High
• 5 = Very High.

How much your ski travel insurance will cost depends on two main factors: the price of your policy and the cost of adding winter sports cover – which is always required for snow sports but may already be included depending on your policy level. 

Several factors influence the price of your policy. Age is a key one, with premiums typically increasing for older travellers, especially those over 65. Your destination also plays a big role – trips to ski resorts in countries like the USA or Canada, such as Aspen, Whistler, or Vail, often cost more to insure due to higher medical expenses. The length of your trip is another factor, as longer trips generally mean higher costs. And if you have pre-existing medical conditions, these might also increase your premium. 

If you have a Comprehensive or Signature Single Trip policy, winter sports cover can be added as an optional extra, so it will increase your total cost.  For those with a Comprehensive or Signature Annual Multi-Trip policy, winter sports cover is already included at no extra charge.  

Having the right travel insurance in place is just as important as your ski boots or snowboard. Here’s a quick guide to help you find a policy that keeps you covered. Ask yourself: 

What activities does the policy cover? 

Not every policy covers every winter sport. Check that activities like skiing, snowboarding, or off-piste runs are included, and take note of any restrictions. 

Are there limits on skiing days? 

Some policies  – especially Annual Multi-Trip plans  –  offer a set number of days for winter sports. Make sure your trip fits within those limits. 

Does it protect my equipment? 

Look for cover for lost, stolen, or damaged gear like skis, snowboards, or passes. Many policies also reimburse you for hire costs if your equipment is delayed. 

What happens if the pistes close? 

Some policies include compensation if the pistes shut due to poor weather or avalanches. It’s worth checking if this is included for peace of mind. 

Is emergency medical cover included? 

Make sure that you have high enough limits to cover any unexpected medical expenses, especially as winter sports injuries can rack up costs quickly. 

What about repatriation? 

Repatriation cover will get you home if you’re injured and require specialist care.  

Can I declare pre-existing conditions? 

Be honest and declare any pre-existing conditions. Many insurers will still cover you, but undeclared issues could void your claim. 

Are there age limits? 

Some policies exclude older travellers, so it’s important to pick one that accommodates your age group, no matter your stage in life. 

Is the provider reliable? 

Look for providers with strong reputations, awards, and positive feedback on platforms like TripAdvisor. A trusted insurer will provide reliable support if you need it. 

With us, you can enjoy up to unlimited medical and repatriation cover, alongside winter sports benefits like protection for loss, theft, or damage to equipment and ski passes, equipment hire fees, unused ski school or instructor costs, and cover for avalanches and landslides. 

It’s always a good idea to arrange your ski insurance well before you travel to make sure you’re fully protected on the slopes. 

We don’t offer ski travel insurance once you’ve left the UK, so you’ll need to take out a policy before you depart. If you’re opting for an annual multi-trip policy, you can set your start date up to 90 days in advance. With a single trip policy, you can buy cover as early as 18 months before your trip begins, and cancellation cover kicks in immediately from the moment you purchase. 

At Staysure, we understand that managing a medical condition can make planning any trip feel a little more complicated – but it doesn’t have to be. With our expertise in medical travel insurance, we’re proud to have helped 97% of our customers get cover for their conditions, and we’re here to support you, too. We know your health needs are personal, which is why we take the time to assess each case individually, including for ski travel insurance. 

Whether we can provide cover will depend on your specific condition, but we’ll do everything we can to help. Getting started is simple – just fill out our online quote form or give our friendly, knowledgeable team a call, and we’ll guide you every step of the way. 

Make sure to declare all your pre-existing conditions when you apply. 

Age shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying the slopes. That’s why our ski travel insurance has no upper age limit. Whether you’ve perfected your turns over the years or you’re gearing up for your first snow sport adventure later in life, we’ve got you covered. 

You can add winter sports cover to Comprehensive and Signature single trip policies as an optional extra. For annual multi trip policies, it's included as standard at these cover levels, giving you the freedom to plan anything from a short ski break to multiple trips throughout the season.