If you are hitting the slopes, ski insurance is a key travel insurance add-on.
It can refund you for things like trip cancellations, damaged skiing equipment, unused lift passes and costly mountain rescues overseas.
Ski travel insurance is important both in Australia and abroad. COVID cover is included with some policies.
What is ski travel insurance?
Ski travel insurance is a type of cover which is specifically designed for people visiting the slopes to ski, snowboard, or take part in any other recreational snow sports.
It usually comes as an optional add-on to a standard travel insurance policy, but provides additional cover that's useful for people who are skiing or snowboarding.
What does ski insurance cover?
COVID-19 related travel expenses. Some policies will cover you for cancellation or medical expenses if you get COVID-19 before or while on your trip. You can also get your money back if there's an outbreak at the ski resort you booked. Find out more about ski travel insurance COVID-19 cover below.
Lost or damaged equipment. Travel insurance can help towards the cost of replacing expensive ski equipment if it's lost, stolen or damaged during your trip. It can even pay for a replacement lift pass if that goes missing too.
Equipment hire. If your gear is lost or damaged, insurance will cover the cost of rental so you can get back on the slopes as quickly as possible.
Injury on the slopes. Lots of standard travel insurance policies won't cover medical expenses if you hurt yourself while skiing, but ski insurance will.
Mountain rescue. Even a relatively small injury can require mountain rescue if you're in a tricky spot. Ski insurance will cover the cost of helicopter rescue, as well as transport to the nearest hospital.
Unused lift passes. If an injury or even bad weather keeps you off the slopes, ski insurance can reimburse you for your unused lift pass, as well as wasted equipment hire or ski lessons.
How does ski insurance work?
Ski travel insurance can help for those breaks to Thredbo or Hotham – or if you're hitting the slopes in Europe or America for a longer trip.
Ski insurance is specifically designed for ski trips and goes beyond what's covered under standard travel cover. It offers financial protection if:
Your ski equipment gets lost, damaged or stolen during your trip. Such equipment is unlikely to be covered under a regular policy.
You break your leg and have to visit a private medical facility for help
Personal liability if you injure someone and they try to sue you
The ski fields close down because of bad weather and you have to change resorts or are forced to cancel
You catch COVID-19 or there's an outbreak at the ski resort you booked. Conditions apply and the country must be deemed safe to travel to by Smartraveller.
Other trip cancellations: for example, if you have to cut short your trip after an injury on the slopes.
Fingers crossed, none of these will happen to you, but this is why travel insurance with COVID coverage is so important when you're on the go, even for a staycation.
"Is off-piste skiing covered?
Depending on the policy you get, you may or may not be covered for other forms of skiing.
A piste is recognised as a marked run or path down a mountain. Off-piste skiing refers to skiing in the backcountry or on unmarked trails. As there are more risks involved, only a handful of insurance providers will offer off-piste cover.
Snow Sports Cover can be added onto the Comprehensive, Australian Travel and Annual Multi-Trip policies for an additional premium. Consider the PDS and TMD from TIS and if the product is right for you.
Note: This information was last updated August 2023
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Most insurers will offer cover for recreational skiing and other snow activities such as snowboarding under a ski insurance policy. However, you won't be covered for off-piste, cross-country or backcountry skiing.
You can buy ski travel insurance for one trip if you're heading for a one-off break. But if you're a more frequent skiier then you might want an annual policy.
Often, you will need to purchase cover for heli-skiing as an additional benefit. An added premium will apply – if this cover is available to you. Contact your insurer for more information.
In comparison to other types of travel cover, ski travel insurance is generally only available to people under the age of 65 as senior buyers are considered to carry too great a risk for insurers. Other general requirements for taking out this cover include:
Must be a resident of Australia
Policy must be purchased prior to starting journey
Journey must start and end in Australia
Generally, yes. Check to see if your condition is automatically covered in your policy (usually conditions like allergies and asthma are included). If you have a more serious condition, consider AllClear a brand that specialises in travel insurance for the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 725 Finder guides across topics including:
James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, WIN News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
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