What travel insurance do you need for an activity holiday?

Bungee jumping is a risky activity

There is a very good reason why no one-size-fits-all travel insurance policy exists.

The reason is that all holidays are different. Skiing is very different to relaxing on a beach, while bungee jumping is very different to spending the day on a tourist bus.

That is why ski travel insurance and other forms of cover exist.

No matter how strong a skier you are, there is always a chance that you could fall and suffer an injury and the chances of you needing medical attention are significantly higher than someone who plans to spend their holiday sunbathing.

So whether you intend to ski, bungee jump, sky dive or all three, you need travel cover that is designed to protect you in such circumstances.

When taking out such insurance, it is important to understand what your policy will include.

Activity holiday cover will provide many of the same features found in a standard policy. However, that does not mean you can simply rely on any existing travel cover you have.

While it may include cover for medical expenses, the chances of you needing hospital care are higher if you are hitting the slopes, meaning there is a greater probability that you will need to make a claim. Your insurance company is likely to reject your claim if you suffer an injury while skiing if they did not know you were planning to partake in such an activity.

Along with medical cover, a ski travel insurance policy will include cover for loss or damage to your equipment, cancellation cover and emergency repatriation cover. Most policies that cover skiing will also provide protection should you decide to engage in other winter sports, such as snowboarding, telemark skiing, cross-country skiing, ice-skating, snow parks, skit-touring and heli-skiing.

As you are at greater risk of suffering an injury, you may be wondering whether a policy tailored to cover those planning an adventure break is likely to cost you more than a standard product.

The answer to this is that it could cost you more, however, it depends on various factors.

Risk is one of those factors, as are the destination you are travelling to, any pre-existing medical conditions you may have and your age.

On the subject of pre-existing medical conditions, make sure you read the policy wording t find out if you need to screen any health worries you may have.

Medical bills in foreign countries can run into tens of thousands of pounds. If you require medical attention as a result of a pre-existing medical condition that you failed to disclose, your insurance provider is likely to turn down your claim on the basis that the risk was not priced into the policy.

The result is that you or your family will be left to cover the cost of any medical care, including the cost of repatriation, you receive.

What ski travel insurance and similar products give you is peace of mind.

All those who take to the slopes know the risks involved with doing so. However, without adequate protection in place, you will not be able to fully enjoy the experience, as you will know that should something go wrong, you will not have a safety net to fall on.

Insurance does represent an extra expense, however, you need to view it in relation to what it gives you.

A small initial outlay can save you from a bill running into the thousands, so it makes a lot of sense economically to take out a holiday policy that covers the specific activities you may be involved in.