We look at getting insured in this installment of our learn to ski guide.

Accidents happen, and a third of all skiers do not purchase insurance to protect themselves from what could end up being thousands of dollars worth of medical and rescue bills.

Murphy’s Law would suggest that what can go wrong, will go wrong, and skiing is no exception; consider issues such as baggage loss, stolen or broken equipment, personal liability in the event of an accident that requires repatriation/restoration, and even things like piste closure that you may not have thought about, all of which can cost you money.

That’s why it is recommended that you invest in some insurance that will cover your skiing trip. Choosing from the huge range of policies, however, can be tricky.

The first consideration is what kind of skier you are. Even the cheapest policies of insurance can cover those folks who are at a beginning or inexperienced level, and who plan to stick to the piste. Basic policies start in the range of $30, and should be available through your travel agent, insurance broker, and sometimes even in the supermarket.

Skiers who are more advanced and who will be engaging in heli-skiing, cat-skiing, or off-piste will need a more inclusive policy to cover those things. Premiums can be significantly more expensive in line with the increased risk or danger and you should expect to have to use a specialist insurance provider to be fully covered.

You must also consider how much coverage you need. A policy may offer different bands of coverage and your activities will fall within one of those bands. For example $1,000,000 medical expenses on a premium policy or $250,000 for a basic policy. Also, pay attention to the excess payments required on any claims made; they can be quite substantial on cheaper policies.

Whichever type of policy and level of coverage you do go for, be sure to buy your insurance in advance of your holiday, or it will be invalid. Auditors always ask for proof of travel, such as air tickets, to guard against people buying insurance after their accident.

Finally, be informed about your coverage by reading the policy thoroughly, particularly the fine print, to make sure it covers what you need it to cover. Nothing will protect you more than to know what’s covered in your policy, and this can only happen if you actually give the contract a thorough read-through and ask questions about anything that doesn’t make sense to you or that you don’t understand.