The Alpine Club of Canada has partnered with Travel Underwriters to market insurance to backcountry skiers, who are grossly underinsured for costs they could incur during an avalanche rescue, according to a study released last month by a British insurer.
“There’s a misconception that backcountry skiers can’t get travel insurance, which isn’t the case”, shares Patrick Robinson, Travel Underwriters’ President & CEO. “We’re concerned that many aren’t exploring their insurance options, which isn’t ideal, particularly when they’re out of their home province.”
A study by the British insurer Aviva found one in seven winter sports-goers admits that they don’t buy the appropriate insurance coverage for winter sports.
Peter Muir, president of Alpine Club of Canada says “backcountry skiing is about planning-route and gear selection, watching the weather and keeping informed from our friends at the Canadian Avalanche Centre. Too often, we forget or ignore to plan for the unexpected consequences.”
As part of their preparation, Muir said Canadian skiers need to know a few basic facts about the limits of their health insurance.
For example, skiers from British Columbia who are injured in Alberta, could incur significant costs for medical services not covered by their health insurance policy. Skiers need to ask if coverage provided by their credit card or employer’s group plan is adequate if something goes wrong.
Skiing out-of-province or across the border means more than just worrying about avalanches. Other types of accidents and injuries can occur on the mountain or even in the parking lot. No one wants to want to pay for out-of-pocket expenses or costly medical bills, and Search and Rescue will only cover the basics.
