Travel insurance for skiers and holidaymakers taking part in winter sports generally is designed to provide cover for emergency medical situations, mountain rescue and repatriation, rather than as a catch-all healthcare insurance as some people assume or even expect.

When you book your ski holiday, your travel agent or tour operator may well offer you a ski insurance policy too. However there are insurance providers out there which specialise in winter sports insurance and can offer more extensive cover. Start off by looking online to find a wide range of quotes quickly and with ease.

The first thing to remember is that you are under no obligation to buy ski insurance from the travel agent you book your holiday with. Ski insurance is of course a specialist area, so it pays to shop around and to ensure you get the best possible cover for all winter sports activities, including snowboarding, heliskiing, off-piste skiing, dog-sledding and tobogganing, if you are eager to try out some of these things.

When you’re on holiday, you should do all you can to reduce the danger that you will have to make any claim. For example if you leave your skis unattended outside bars during breaks then try to exchange one of your skis with a friend as this will deter thieves because a pair of mismatched skis is practically worthless.

Many insurers now recognise off-piste skiing as part of a ski holiday and so are more inclined to allow it. But you should first always check the details of your policy to work out whether or not you will be covered if you try it without a qualified guide. In addition, if you ski in avalanche zones or areas marked as ‘out of bounds’ your policy will automatically become invalidated.

Check the small print too to see the terms for when snow conditions in your resort are poor. If the resort is near a glacier they may pay for alternative arrangements that will enable you to ski there. There are always lots of factors that may prevent you from being able to ski, such as a piste closure or your own injury or illness.

If you plan on having more than one ski holiday during any given season, it may turn out to be a lot cheaper for you to buy an annual insurance policy. This will also cut out the hassle of arranging a new insurance policy every time you go away.

If you pay close attention to the fine print of the insurance policies available, then ultimately you’ll find you can make good savings and ensure you are well covered on your holiday.