Good travel package for skiers essential

A COLLEAGUE recently went on a ski trip and was a bit put" out when he was told that his travel insurance - taken out through American Express on a policy written by his broker - would be double the normal non-ski insurance premium amount, £80 compared to £40.

But a recent report from the British travel assistance and insurance company, Europ Assistance, has highlighted the need to have proper insurance for those going on a skiing holiday, especially if travelling to countries with high medical costs such as the US.

It costs five times as much if you break a leg in the United States than France so those heading for Vail or Aspen instead of Alpes d'Huez or Val d'Isere please take note.

According to Europ Assistance, a fracture on the pistes of Alpes d'Huez would cost around £1,780. But in Colorado - probably the main US destination for Irish skiers - the same fracture will cost £9,200.

So skiers beware, injuries can cost a lot and even an €111 card will only mean that you will be able to recoup your treatment costs at a later date, not necessarily get free treatment from a local hospital in an EU country. A good travel insurance package covering ski injuries, including air ambulance is an essential investment.

By the way, the £80 premium from American Express for 31-day cover taken out by my colleague is seen in the industry as pretty competitive. But still, it does no harm to shop around and not automatically take the insurance package offered by the travel agent, even though the savings might not be great.

Remember, travel agents tend to sell their travel products on very tight margins. It is on the sale of travel insurance that travel agents receive substantial commissions that augment their usually modest margins on package holidays. Claims to Europ Assistance have shown that novice skiers are just as likely to slip up on the slopes as daredevil downhill racers, with torn ligaments by far the biggest injury suffered by skiers.

Torn ligaments accounted for 31.5 per cent of the claims received by Europ Assistance, followed by lower leg fractures (10.8 per cent), cuts and bruises (9.2 per cent), fractured thumbs (7.8 per cent), fractured arms (5.9 per cent), fractured vertebra (5.3 per cent), upper leg fracture (5.1 per cent), dislocated shoulder (4.7 per cent), fractured wrist (4.1 per cent) and fractured rib (3.7 per cent).