Things Kiwis need to know about winter sports insurance

What is winter sports travel insurance?

Standard travel insurance policies won’t cover many of the risks that come with winter sports activities.

From piste closures and damaged or lost equipment to mountain-side rescue, winter sports travel insurance can provide the protection you need.

What does it cover?

As well as providing protection for the situations that standard travel insurance typically includes, like lost luggage and flight cancellations, winter sports insurance can also cover:

• Cost of hired equipment
• If you had to hire equipment because your gear was lost, stolen or damaged
•  Lost lift passes
• Provides cover to help you pay for the cost of a replacement ski pass
•  Piste closures
  This will help to reimburse you if you can’t use the slopes when there’s not enough or too much snow, or if the ski lifts and ski schools are closed
•  Avalanche delays
• Cover if you need extra transport and accommodation when an avalanche interferes with your plans
•  Medical expenses and repatriation
• If you had to receive emergency medical treatment, return home early or extend your stay because of injury or illness
•  Lost, stolen or damaged equipment
  This will cover you if your own equipment is lost, stolen or damaged on your journey
•  Personal liability
  This helps to cover legal costs if you’re liable for causing injury to someone else

What sports are covered for kiwis winter sports travel insurance?

The winter sports covered will vary by insurer, but policies will typically cover you for activities like:

• Snowboarding
• Skiing
• Ice skating
• Tobogganing and sledging
• Sleigh rides
• Snowmobiling
• Dog-sledding

Check your policy carefully to make sure that any activity you’re planning to do on your holiday will be covered.

How much does winter sports insurance cost for kiwis? 

The price you’ll pay will depend on a range of factors including:

• Your destination
• Your age
• How many people you’re insuring
• The length of your policy
• Any pre-existing medical conditions

Just like standard travel insurance, you can buy winter sports insurance as single-trip cover or as an annual or multi-trip policy.

Travelling with serious pre-existing medical conditions

Our panel includes travel insurance providers that can give you a quote for policies with cover for many declared serious medical conditions.

• Medical expenses
  Covers the cost of emergency visits to the doctor or hospital for medical treatment while abroad. You’ll need to declare any pre-existing medical conditions, or you may not be covered.
• Repatriation
  Repatriation covers the cost of getting you home to the New Zealand for further medical treatment if you’re seriously ill or injured abroad.
• Cancellation or curtailment
  If you need to cancel, cut short or delay your holiday for certain reasons outside your control, you could reclaim the cost. You won’t be covered if you knew that you might need to cancel or cut short your trip, for example because you were already unwell.
• Lost, stolen or damaged possessions
  Cover for your luggage and belongings. This sometimes also includes cover for passports or cash. Your home contents policy or gadget insurance might offer some cover for your possessions while abroad as well.
• Personal liability and legal expenses
  Covers the costs of legal fees, in case you accidentally injure someone or damage their property and they sue you. It can also help you pursue compensation if you’re injured during your trip where someone else was to blame.
• Delayed departure
  Most travel insurance companies will offer some cover for delayed outbound or inbound journeys, however the requirements for the length of the delay and what compensation is available may differ. Make sure you read your policy so you know what you’re covered for.