UK Ferry Tickets

I cannot wait to get out on the slopes and have booked a long weekend in Les Gets for later this month.

I noticed that the annual insurance policy for my girlfriend and I was up for renewal and called the provider to sort it out. Apparently, one in seven people ski without cover but they are, in my opinion, mad. Break your leg on the slopes and you could take years to pay off the bill for the treatment you’ll receive.

Anyway, I was just about to renew, when I noticed that the new premium didn’t include winter sports cover. Two things annoyed me about this. Firstly, that I’d now have to pay extra to insure us for skiing following a change in the company’s policy, but more than that, they weren’t going to tell me about the change! If I hadn’t looked at the small print, I would happily have gone away on holiday without the appropriate cover.

Excluding winter sports as a standard part of an annual travel insurance policy is now fairly common among many firms. Post Office Travel Services is the latest company to charge extra to skiers and boarders.

This may be fair enough, if they’ve had lots of claims. But don’t rely on anyone to tell you that you have the appropriate cover – read the small print yourself!

I’ve talked in previous newsletters about getting the European Health Insurance Card, which entitles people to free or reduced cost medical treatment in Europe. This is useful, but is not a substitute for travel insurance. Often the treatment available in ski resorts is in private clinics, which are not covered by the EHIC.

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Monday, January 9th, 2006