Winter travel is always a magical time filled with outdoor activities. It is worth remembering that traveling at this time of year also carries potential risks. Especially when skiing or snowboarding. Find out more about how to take care of your protection and where to buy an insurance policy for any eventuality

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Winter is the best period for adventures and outdoor activities. However, winter sports involve additional risks. According to statistics, almost every tenth skier (or boarder) gets injured on the slopes and needs hospitalization. Given that medical care abroad can be very expensive, you should take care of special medical insurance when planning a winter vacation. What kind of policy is this? Read more about the specifics of winter sports insurance below.

How much does medical care cost in the mountains?

On average, medical care services on the slopes will cost an athlete 300-500 euros. The cost of an ambulance that takes you to a hospital or to a general practitioner in the city ranges from 150 to 800 euros. If the accident happened off the track, the cost of the rescue operation can reach 500-600 euros. In case of hospitalization, add the cost of hospital treatment - from 250 euros per day.

Considering the possible injuries, your winter trip risks becoming extremely expensive. An insurance policy for skiers can protect a tourist from unforeseen expenses.

What is winter sports travel insurance?

If you plan to go to the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, sledding or any other equipment, then you need to purchase a specialized insurance policy that covers winter sports, because standard travel insurance does not usually cover injuries sustained during time for active recreation.

How does winter sports insurance differ from travel insurance?

Conventional travel insurance covers certain travel-related circumstances, such as loss or damage to luggage, theft of your belongings, flight delay, medical care for illness, etc.

Winter sports insurance can cover all these bases, but it takes into account that the purpose of your vacation is not to relax on the beach and read a book, but to enjoy a sport that can be quite traumatic. Ski insurance provides coverage for medical bills, given the high risk of injury, and also provides specialized coverage for your ski gear, which usually costs more than the usual items taken on vacation.

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What does ski travel insurance cover?

Most ski insurance policies cover the following risks:

- Medical services – emergency medical care, transportation to a health care facility, compensation for injury treatment, doctor's visits, hospital stay, purchase of drugs, X-rays, etc.

- The risk of canceling a winter trip – skiing or snowboarding is an exciting vacation that is usually planned in advance. However, sometimes extraordinary circumstances make adjustments to plans. Trip cancellation insurance can cover prepaid and non-refundable expenses such as plane tickets, lift tickets, hotel accommodation, transfers, etc.

- Delays during the trip – winter weather often interferes with the functioning of transport: there are flight delays, cancellations of trains or buses. In this case, tourists have to rent a hotel or look for a new ticket. A travel insurance policy compensates the traveler for these expenses.

- Problems with luggage – the insurance policy will compensate for loss or damage to your property.

- Ski Equipment Insurance – Ski insurance policies usually include compensation for the costs of theft or breakage of your sports equipment.

Why is it important to have insurance when you go to a ski resort?

A winter sports travel insurance policy will allow you to relax in the mountains, because you can be sure that your travel investment is protected, your family is protected from injuries, you have the right to emergency medical care and you are insured against accidents during travel

Limitation of policies for active winter recreation

Although most winter sports travel insurance policies cover a wide range of risks, they also have their limitations and specifics, for example, off-piste skiing and snowboarding may be permitted, but only with a certified guide.

There are also restrictions on alcohol consumption. Most insurance companies do not cover injuries sustained while under the influence of alcohol. Some agents consider the percentage of alcohol in the blood to be acceptable, which does not exceed the dose allowed by the legislation of the host country.

How to protect yourself from injuries during winter vacation?

Here are some tips to avoid injuries on the slopes:

1. Maintain general fitness and regular cardio exercises that can help you prevent injuries.

2. Warm up your muscles before going down the mountain. Cold muscles have a greater risk of injury. Gently stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps (thigh muscles), thighs, and calves before and after skiing or snowboarding.

3. Wear a helmet. If you do fall, a properly fitting helmet can reduce your risk of head injury. A helmet can also provide protection in the event of a collision with a person who has lost control.

4. When renting or buying ski or snowboard equipment, do not exaggerate your skill level. Make sure you purchase equipment that will be safe for you and your abilities.

5. Use ski poles without straps. This will allow you to free the stick in an emergency and prevent snagging that can cause thumb and hand injuries.

6. Rest when you are tired. Most injuries occur after lunch, when athletes are already tired.

7. It is important to wear specialized clothing to keep yourself warm while skiing. It is better to wear several layers of warm clothes under a waterproof layer.

8. Take care of your skin: Sunburns from the mountains are very common. Although UV rays may not be as strong in the winter, sunscreen is still important because reflection from snow increases UV exposure. In addition, you are at a higher altitude, which makes the effects of the sun stronger.

9. Don't Go Alone: Even if you're the best skier on the mountain, you shouldn't go off-piste alone. You never know when you might run into a problem and need a friend to help you out.

Where to buy a travel insurance policy for winter holidays?

When planning a winter trip, it is worth choosing insurance policies from agents that provide support in any corner of the world.

Visit Ukraine offers insurance that covers medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. That is, a tourist can count on medical assistance on the route, free transportation to a medical facility, hospitalization, treatment, surgery, compensation for drugs and return to the homeland. The coverage is valid under the condition that the level of alcohol in the tourist's blood does not exceed the norm allowed by the legislation of the country of stay.

Expenses related to lost luggage, trip cancellation, flight delays, etc. are also additionally compensated.

You can order a reliable travel insurance policy for winter holidays from a verified insurance agent via the link.

We remind you! Winter vacation in Ukraine gives a unique atmosphere of Christmas and New Year holidays and family comfort. A trip to the ski resorts of the Carpathians is a traditional choice for many travelers. However, there are other exciting locations in Ukraine. Read more about where else you can spend a weekend in Ukraine in our previous article.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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