Frequently asked questions

Yes, your ski equipment is covered if you leave it outside a restaurant/bar whilst you stop for a break. If you leave your skis outside, unattended and unlocked overnight, you may not have your claim paid. It is advisable to use ski locker rooms at your accommodation. Do not leave skis unattended in public areas for extended periods of time without locking them away. A useful loss prevention measure is to split your skis with another member of your group to deter theft. Report thefts to the police immediately.

We do not have an exclusion for off piste skiing or a requirement that you are only covered off piste with a guide. We offer a variety of ‘ski styles’ to reflect the different types of wintersports holidays you might take.

• Nordic XC (cross country): covers what is often termed ‘langlauf’ or ‘nordic’ skiing on marked tracks and trails.
• Piste/Slack Country: refers to the most usual form of alpine or downhill skiing and snowboarding using the runs prepared as pistes and shown on a typical resort lift map. Slack Country is the term for unpisted runs shown on your resort map including unpisted links between runs. Slack Country runs are patrolled and are freely available to all skiers and boarders.
• Pipe & Park: refers to fun parks that feature in most resorts these days for freestyle skiers and boarders using half pipes, jumps, rails and skier cross tracks. If you take a Pipe & Park policy you are also covered for Piste/Slack Country skiing and boarding.
• Lift Served Freeride: is for skiers or boarders accessing runs that do not form part of a resorts marked pistes away from the crowds. Runs are accessible via lifts but may entail a short hike or walk to access the start of the run. An example may be the Vallee Blanche in Chamonix.
• Back Country Touring: covers remote ski touring using skins, often taking in overnight stays in mountain huts or travelling between resorts.
• Heli and Snow Cat skiing or boarding: is accessing remote off piste runs via helicopter or snowcat/skidoo.
• Ski Mountaineering: is the combination of alpine mountaineering taking in assents of peaks with skiing and ski touring. The higher rated policies automatically cover the lesser rated styles of skiing or boarding.

You are automatically covered for any ski style below the option you take.

Warning! Younger skiers and boarders or inexperienced boarders are statistically at greater risk of injury, particularly off piste or in snow parks. Please seek professional guidance or instruction to ensure your skill levels help you avoid injury.

• Rambler: this is the lowest level for easy walks on marked trails in non mountainous regions.
• Hill walker: use this level for alpine walking including hut to hut tours, e.g.; Tour de Mont Blanc. Typically you will be walking at low altitudes below 3500m in summer conditions (ie, no snow or ice involved).
• Trekker: this level is for higher altitude or winter treks (between 3500m-6000m) and includes treks in the greater ranges of the Himalaya (e.g. Everest Base Camp) and South America (Inca Trail etc.) but also includes Kilimanjaro and high European treks like the Haute Route where glacial crossings or winter conditions may be involved – if your walking involves the use of ice axe, crampons and safety ropes you should use this option.
• Sport climber: is for single & multi pitch (including leader placed protection) bolted climbing including graded scrambling and bouldering.
• Via ferrata: (Italian for ‘iron way’) is for using fixed wire routes typically found in the Dolomites and other parts of the European Alps.
• Big walls: is for multi pitch big wall ascents.
• Alpinist: is for alpine style mountaineering ascents in glacial, snow and ice conditions as well as the higher listed trekking peaks of the Himalaya typically below 6500m (e.g. Mera and Island Peaks).
• Expedition: is for mountaineering below 7500m in the remote Himalaya/Asia, South America (including Aconcagua), Greenland, Alaska (Denali) – expedition cover is subject to written details of the trip being agreed in advance by Snowcard. Details should be emailed to assistance@snowcard.co.uk – note we do not normally quote for expeditions above 7500m.

You are automatically covered for any Trek/climb style below the option you take.

Only during the daytime and if the vehicle is locked. Theft of valuables and Techno Equipment (as defined in the policy, eg. money, jewellery, camera equipment, electronic equipment etc) is not covered unless from a locked room or building. If you have to leave your vehicle unattended overnight, remove your belongings and take them in to the building you are staying in. On outward or return journeys, if you stay in a motel on an overnight trip, we do not expect you to unload the whole car but any valuables should be removed.

Similar conditions apply as for theft from vehicles, particularly in respect of valuables. Whilst you cannot lock a tent, losses can be prevented by placing items of value in a locked car whilst you are out during the day time. We do not expect you to pack away all of your belongings but do not leave any items of value lying around in view if at all avoidable. You must report any theft to the police within 24 hours of discovery. If there has been no evidence of a theft, they may be reluctant to provide a police report which could prejudice your claim.

As from vehicles and tents, if at all possible, you should lock unused equipment in your car. If this is not possible, cover is not excluded but the problem with police reports is an ever present reality. Keep an eye on your equipment at all times and do not leave it unattended if at all possible.

Techno equipment, as defined here: see definitions, is covered upto the amount specified on your Insurance Schedule. High value items should be insured separately under a home contents insurance. Theft of unattended techno equipment is excluded, see Small print – Personal belongings and equipment for cover limitations.

• You must always take proper care of your belongings and not leave things, particularly valuables, unattended. Leaving something behind is not covered.
• Valuables like cameras, jewellery, money (see definitions) are not covered when unattended except in locked accomodation.
• Fragile items are not covered against accidental damage.
• For equipment, we specifically exclude damage whilst being used for racing or competition.
• Damage in use of mountain bikes and cracking, scratching and denting of canoes or kayaks in use are not covered.

Unfortunately we are unable to offer a travel insurance quotation for persons aged over 80. For information on obtaining a quotation from an alternative provider, please visit the British Insurance Brokers’ Association website at: www.biba.org.uk

Unfortunately we are unable to offer annual travel insurance quotation for persons aged over 75. For information on obtaining a quotation from an alternative provider, please visit the British Insurance Brokers’ Association website at: www.biba.org.uk

Yes, the costs of helicopter or ground based rescue is covered within the Medical and accidental expenses section of the policy (see condition 6). Your Snowcard gives evidence of medical and rescue insurance. The 24 emergency number should be called as soon as practical by you or someone acting for you. Rescue and medical fees can be guaranteed and paid directly for you if necessary. It is allowable for your guide to instigate rescue without reference to us although Assistance International must be contacted as soon as possible. Rescue must be because of an emergency situation.

Yes, emergency medical treatment following decompression illness or sickness is included under the Medical and accidental expenses section of the policy

No. Account is taken of age and current market value.

The policy is subject to the Health declaration. You may call Snowcard to discuss any uncertainties or request a health declaration form to complete. If you or a close relative, or someone you will be travelling with has been treated by a specialist or had in-patient treatment within the past 3 months or is awaiting treatment you must contact Snowcard.

No. If you call the 24 hour emergency number on your Snowcard, Assistance International will guarantee and arrange to pay your bills for you. For smaller amounts which you have paid yourself, simply call the claims number (0845 122 3280) on your return to the UK and ask for the appropriate claim form.

Insurers usually ask you to pay the first part of a claim to keep claims administration costs down. The excess is per person claiming under each section of the policy. If you make multiple claims under different sections, the excess will apply to each section as specified in the policy wording. When you order your policy, you can select your own excess from zero to £250.

• The Health declaration is relevant to the cancellation section as well as to the medical expenses section.
• You will need a doctor’s certificate to make a cancellation claim.
• Familiarise yourself with the definition of a close relative.
• We do not cover the financial failure of your travel agent, tour operator or airline.
• Ensure you only book travel services with a company holding a bond to protect your money.
• If you have to cut short a trip, you must seek agreement with Assistance International before making return home arrangements.

Annual ‘Multi trip’ policies only cover holidays in the UK with at least one nights pre-paid accommodation.

No. You only need to call if your single trip is likely to exceed your selected trip limit or you need a higher level activity.

It is a general condition of cover that you follow FCO or government advice, which is detailed in full at www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo

If FCO advice is that ‘they advise against all travel’ or ‘they advise against all but essential travel’ then we will not insure the journey at all.

Where caution is advised, you must follow more specific suggestions like using the services of professional guides or local agents.

The FCO often advise against travel to certain areas in a country that they otherwise do not advise against all travel to. Please ensure that you have read the FCO advice and can comply with such restrictions prior to travel. If in doubt, you should contact the British Embassy at your intended destination and clear your itinerary with them.

In the event that it becomes too dangerous to visit a country you have booked to go to, in the first instance you must seek either a refund or an alternative holiday from your tour operator. It is normal that where it becomes impossible to provide travel services because of hostilities or negative FCO advice that tour operators provide such assistance.

Where you make independent travel arrangements or book directly with service providers overseas, you may not have such protection and it is advisable to use a tour operator where there is a higher than normal risk of terrorist activity interfering with your journey.