Latest posts for the topic "Glacier Skiing - Insurance"

Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:22:07 GMT

My "Free" insurance excludes Glacier skiing - does this mean I can't ski on Pisted Glaciers (e.g. Tignes in November :)) or does it mean the likes of Vallee Blanche? If it does exclude my Tignes trip can anyone recommend a top up?
Thanks.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:31:18 GMT

Zwee, it's likely to be a catch all clause, because they had to pay out once, and no-one at the underwriters has a clue about snow sports. Most decent insurers will give ski cover for pisted runs glacier situated or not. I would suggest that you need to get this clarified in writing.

As it's France you can buy a Carte Neige with your lift ticket 2-3 euros a day, which will get you recovered whilst on your trip, which would be a good idea in any case, as many French rescue units will not accept foreign insurance policies (no matter how valid they are). If you do this and then need to call on your free policy, they may refuse to cover your needs because of where/what you were doing.

Consider buying ski insurance.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:04:48 GMT

Zwee,

Why don't you ask the insurers?

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:17:04 GMT

Dave Mac wrote: Why don't you ask the insurers?

I did and they didn't know :roll:!

I suppose I will have to write to them but I wondered if there was a standard definition for "Glacier Skiing".

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:52:10 GMT

For insurance purposes, you would be wise to go into writing with your query, and, get a written answer. The response that you have received reinforces Bandit's suggestion ~ "no-one at the underwriters has a clue about snow sports"

I would never rely on free insurance for skiing.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:19:29 GMT

Zwee, I ought to have said that I would be wary of free insurance, but it is evident that is the case with you.

I only pay GBP60/GBP65 per year, for two people, for Europe. That includes for off piste skiing, no mention of a guide, but is to be within the resort boundary. I believe that Bandit uses the same insurer, as do a few others. That covers you for all your summer Euro trips too.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:42:49 GMT

Zwee,
I think I only paid something like GBP60 for annual travel insurance, including ski-ing, for my daughter and myself, with the post office. This will cover our two ski-ing trips plus any other holidays we might decide to take. It's amazingly cheap. We will be ski-ing on the glacier at Tignes in October, and then in Courchevel in Feb.

Ally

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:39:59 GMT

AllyG wrote:Zwee,
I think I only paid something like GBP60 for annual travel insurance, including ski-ing, for my daughter and myself, with the post office. This will cover our two ski-ing trips plus any other holidays we might decide to take. It's amazingly cheap. We will be ski-ing on the glacier at Tignes in October, and then in Courchevel in Feb.

Ally

Ours covers unlimited skiing during the winter, subject to a maximum of 17 consecutive days, and up to 45 consecutive days in the summer.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:50:08 GMT

Dave Mac,
Who's your insurance with?

Ally

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:49:38 GMT

AllyG wrote:Dave Mac,
Who's your insurance with?

Ally

It is n Annual Multi-Trip Premier, with Direct Travel, cost GBP68.00 per couple, 45days/trip, 17 days per trip in winter, no limit to the number of winter trips. You can pay a premium, and add to the number of days, if you want to stay beyond 17 days ~ have done that a few times.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:53:06 GMT

Hi, Guys I use the British Mountaineering Council's insurance, Alpine& Ski. (www.thebmc.co.uk) 01614456111. It cost's GBP136.66 per year it covers me for offpiste with, without a guide, on my own, Heliskiing, rails, jumps, parks,(not that I can do all of these) :lol: but it does not actually mention glacier sking, I never thought to ask but the same insurance covered me for climbing Mt. Blanc. It also covers me for any number of trips up to a maximum of 93 days per round trip. ) Its about GBP35 a week for me depending how many times we ski, but it gives the O/H piece of mind, as she only ever skis on piste :cry: and uses the carte niege.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:21:57 GMT

Thanks Dave Mac for your reply. Your insurance is pretty cheap too!

Ally

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:04:35 GMT

Well I have got an answer from the Insurance Co. and their definition of NOT Glacier Skiing is

"Egg Travel:
'Glacier Skiing' is an excluded activity, and these policies cannot be extended to cover this.
There are a number of ski resorts which are built on glaciers (e.g. Tigne in France and Solden in Austria).
These are standard pistes with ski lifts, nursery slopes and bars and restaurants. A Policyholder travelling to a resort such as this will not be deemed to be 'Glacier Skiing' and cover can be provided as normal."

Which is the answer I was hoping for :D so I can now get excited about my trip to Tignes without worrying about that.
PS Insurance wasn't free it was reduced (GBP30ish) for annual family with wintersports cover - not bad really.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:27:00 GMT

Zwee, I'm glad that this has been cleared up to your satisfaction. I would urge you to additionally cover your party with Carte Neige as many skiers to France find that "non" needs no translation and Euro's are most welcome, when accessing recovery and medical services in the Tarentaise.

I would not be happy with your insurers' clarification, as it seems really ambiguous and open to interpretation. It looks to have been written by someone who has not the faintest idea about skiing or ski resorts. It's very useful to see questions like yours' put to insurers, and to see how they respond.

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:41:03 GMT

The extra insurance I bought with my lift pass in Val Thorens was called Carre (acute accent on 'e') neige. I don't know where the 'carre' comes from because as far as I know it means 'square' and neige is snow of course. Anyway, I'm planning on buying it again - just in case!

Ally

Re:Glacier Skiing - Insurance

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 07:51:39 GMT

AllyG wrote:The extra insurance I bought with my lift pass in Val Thorens was called Carre (acute accent on 'e') neige. I don't know where the 'carre' comes from because as far as I know it means 'square' and neige is snow of course. Anyway, I'm planning on buying it again - just in case!

Ally

It is a French insurer.

http://www.carreneige.com/index.php/carre-neige-cover-2008/2009.html

You were most sensible to double insure your party as Val Thorens in particular has a dreadful reputation for refusing to recognise valid insurance cover simply because it's not French.

I have personal experience to back this up. My UK insurer knew all about Val Thorens from their professional experiences.