Ski travel insurance

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.

In the Australian insurance market, you will often encounter two primary marketing terms: 'Snow Pack' and 'Winter Sports Pack'. While these terms are frequently used interchangeably, a 'Snow Pack' is typically a modular add-on designed for recreational skiers on groomed runs, whereas a 'Winter Sports Pack' might encompass a broader range of activities such as ice skating, tobogganing, or even glacier skiing. It is essential to check the specific definitions in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) as one insurer's 'Snow Pack' may exclude activities that another's 'Winter Sports Pack' includes (Source: Mozo; RACV).

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.

Premium snow packs often include specific equipment and liability protections that go beyond standard baggage cover. This includes protection for 'owned' equipment against accidental damage or theft while not in use, as well as liability cover if you accidentally injure another person on the slopes. However, be aware that most policies specifically exclude damage to equipment while it is actually being used (Source: Allianz; Canstar).

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.

Standard travel insurance policies almost universally exclude alpine activities due to the high frequency and severity of claims associated with the sport. Without the specific winter sports add-on, you may find yourself personally liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical evacuation and hospital costs. This add-on acts as a 'bridge' that reinstates medical and liability coverage for snow-based incidents which are otherwise listed as general exclusions (Source: 1Cover; Australia Post).

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.

One of the most valuable components of these packs is 'Piste Closure' cover. This provides reimbursement if the lift systems at your pre-booked resort are completely closed for a period (usually more than 24 hours). Valid scenarios typically include a total lack of snow, excessive snow or avalanches making the runs unsafe, and even mechanical power failures that stop the lifts from operating. In these cases, your policy might cover the cost of transport to the nearest open resort or provide a daily cash benefit (Source: RACV; 1Cover).

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.

Coverage for alpine activities is strictly limited by several standard exclusions. Most policies will not cover you if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, participating in professional racing, or performing stunts and acrobatics in a terrain park. Furthermore, many 'Snow Packs' only cover off-piste skiing if you are accompanied by a professional guide and staying within the boundaries of a recognised resort (Source: iSelect; Canstar).

Provider	Covered?	Conditions	Apply
Zoom	Yes	Off-piste skiing covered under Comprehensive, Domestic or Frequent Traveller Policies with Snow Pack. Backcountry snow sports are not covered.	Finder Award Get quote
Fast Cover	Yes	Off-piste skiing is covered under Snow Sports Plus policy	Get quote
Insure4less	Yes	Off-piste skiing is covered under Snow Sports cover	Get quote
InsureandGo	Yes	Off-piste skiing is covered under Winter Sports Travel Insurance	Get quote
Tick	Yes	Off-piste skiing is covered under Snow Sports cover	Finder Award Get quote
World2cover	Yes	Off-piste skiing covered (with a professional snow sport instructor/guide all the times)	Get quote
Cover-More	Yes	Off-piste skiing covered under Snow Sports Plus	Get quote
Travel Insurance Saver	Yes	Snow sports available as optional extra with off-piste available. AMT comes with 23-days on-piste snow sports cover per trip. Consider the PDS and TMD from TIS and if the product is right for you.	Get quote
Stella	Yes	Off-piste skiing covered (with a professional snow sport instructor/guide all the times)	Get quote
1cover	Yes	Off-piste skiing (only as provided under the Winter Sports and Winter Sports Professional Ski PDSs)	Get quote
Ski-insurance	Yes	Off-piste is covered	Get quote

_{Note: This information was last updated October 2024}

Frequently asked questions

• Am I covered for other snow activities?

  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.

• Can I get multi-trip ski travel insurance?

  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.

• Am I covered for heli-skiing?

  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.

• Who can apply for ski cover in Australia?

  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

• Can I ski if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

  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.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 572 Finder guides across topics including:

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
• Managing the cost of living

Co-written by

James Martin

Journalist

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, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. An experienced journalist, James' work has featured in publications including The Irish Times, Companies100 and In Business. 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

James's expertise

James has written 181 Finder guides across topics including:

• Car, home, life, health, travel and pet insurance
• Managing the cost of living
• Money-saving tips