Of course we are all also forgetting the European Travel Insurance Card, which unless I'm mistaken offers free emergency medical treatment in all 27 European states...
Private travel insurance will also cover personal belongings, but I'm confident I will get my kit to and from the airport in one piece. Yes there is a risk it could get stolen/damaged on the slope, but again I feel the insurance price outweighs the risk.
As for having a drink skiing limit, well, where do you stop? What if I've had a few, and have to run for a bus and in the process knock an old lady down who bangs her head and suffers irreversible brain damage? Was that just an accident, or was the drink to blame?
Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !
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Started by OldAndy in Ski Chatter 08-Jan-2011 - 48 Replies
Smokey Barr
reply to 'Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !' posted Jan-2011
Edited 1 time. Last update at 11-Jan-2011
Mekka
reply to 'Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !' posted Jan-2011
The EHIC doesn't work for private hospitals, transportation, etc. That's a big bill getting someone off the mountain and into hospital with a badly broken leg. I know so unfortunately.
It also won't cover repatriation.
One thing I'll always advise people is to carry a credit card when skiing. The mountain clinic would not let my husband leave for the hospital until his bill had been paid. Luckily a member of our group did have a credit card and paid the bill. It had never crossed our mind that this could happen. We're spoilt here with free, at point of contact, health care.
Also check which areas are covered. People often assume Switzerland and Andorra are covered.
It also won't cover repatriation.
One thing I'll always advise people is to carry a credit card when skiing. The mountain clinic would not let my husband leave for the hospital until his bill had been paid. Luckily a member of our group did have a credit card and paid the bill. It had never crossed our mind that this could happen. We're spoilt here with free, at point of contact, health care.
Also check which areas are covered. People often assume Switzerland and Andorra are covered.
Ian Wickham
reply to 'Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !' posted Jan-2011
I enjoy a beer at lunch time, only one mind and maybe one in the afternoon and then maybe a couple of snorts from the hip flask, does that make me a bad person ????
Mekka
reply to 'Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !' posted Jan-2011
I enjoy a wine with my lunch and maybe a gluhwein later in the afternoon. This is not what makes me a bad person! :lol:
As my policy only excludes alcohol abuse I'm pretty happy with it. There are a myriad of policies out there. If you want to be insured and have a beverage or 2 before 5pm I'm pretty certain it's possible.
If you don't want to pay the insurance that's your call. But you'll never convince me it's a wise move.
As my policy only excludes alcohol abuse I'm pretty happy with it. There are a myriad of policies out there. If you want to be insured and have a beverage or 2 before 5pm I'm pretty certain it's possible.
If you don't want to pay the insurance that's your call. But you'll never convince me it's a wise move.
Ian Wickham
reply to 'Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !' posted Jan-2011
Mekka wrote:I enjoy a wine with my lunch and maybe a gluhwein later in the afternoon. This is not what makes me a bad person! :lol:
As my policy only excludes alcohol abuse I'm pretty happy with it. There are a myriad of policies out there. If you want to be insured and have a beverage or 2 before 5pm I'm pretty certain it's possible.
If you don't want to pay the insurance that's your call. But you'll never convince me it's a wise move.
Agreed, I have never made a claim on my travel Insurance but I always have it .... does that make me an even badder boy.
Smokey Barr
reply to 'Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !' posted Jan-2011
The EHIC doesn't work for private hospitals, transportation, etc.
I'm not sure about private hospitals (as long as I'm fixed I couldn't give a toss if I have my own room or not), but it does include transport to the hospital by ambulance. So as long as I can get off the mountain (ski stretcher) I'm sorted.
Edited 1 time. Last update at 11-Jan-2011
Mekka
reply to 'Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !' posted Jan-2011
Mountain clinics are private clinics. They use private ambulances most of the time. Helicopter trips are not covered which unfortunately could always be necessary. Not every town has a private clinic and a state run facility. Distances from the mountain can be very large.
Either you think there's a chance you may be injured and you have no idea whether you will need rushing to a hospital before a state ambulance can arrive. Or you know that you won't be injured and won't need the insurance.
The question is can you afford the £25,000 for repatriation if necessary? That's before any other costs.
Either you think there's a chance you may be injured and you have no idea whether you will need rushing to a hospital before a state ambulance can arrive. Or you know that you won't be injured and won't need the insurance.
The question is can you afford the £25,000 for repatriation if necessary? That's before any other costs.
Edited 1 time. Last update at 11-Jan-2011
Smokey Barr
reply to 'Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !' posted Jan-2011
A member of my party was injured last year. Called an ambulance, showed his EHIC card, went to hospital, got better, went home.
Granted this wasn't on the slope, but if it had the exact same would have happened. Shipped to the local hospital, got better, go home. No fancy helicopters, no fancy private clinic hospitals, just went to hospital and got fixed.
No need for travel insurance at any time...
As for repatriation... I'll take my chances.
This is similar to the helmet debate. You either want it, or you don't. Some say it's better to be safe than sorry, others will be happy to take the risk, all be it a small one.
Granted this wasn't on the slope, but if it had the exact same would have happened. Shipped to the local hospital, got better, go home. No fancy helicopters, no fancy private clinic hospitals, just went to hospital and got fixed.
No need for travel insurance at any time...
As for repatriation... I'll take my chances.
This is similar to the helmet debate. You either want it, or you don't. Some say it's better to be safe than sorry, others will be happy to take the risk, all be it a small one.
Topic last updated on 12-January-2011 at 11:23