Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
27 November 2017 09:23
238,000 over 55s headed out on the slopes last winter
Almost two in five winter sports enthusiasts who are over aged 55 do not check that their travel insurance covers them, new research shows.
According to the travel trade organisation Abta, 38% of ski and snowboarding holidaymakers in this age category may not be covered in the event of an accident.
Comparatively, under a third (29%) of all age ranges do not check they have appropriate travel insurance for winter sports trips.
Wrong to assume automatic cover
Older travellers are increasingly favouring winter sports holidays, with around 238,000 people aged 55-64 estimated to have headed out on the slopes last winter.
This has doubled from the previous year, Abta has said.
With around 1.75 million Britons expected to go on a skiing or snowboarding trip this winter, the travel body is issuing a warning to ensure holidaymakers don't run the risk of being landed with costly medical bills.
Nikki White, Abta's director of destinations and sustainability, warns: "Many holidaymakers wrongly assume they are automatically covered for winter sports as part of their travel insurance but it is often not the case.
"It is a costly business if you have an accident on the slopes and don't have the right insurance to cover your medical bills."
Injuries on the slopes
According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), thousands of winter sports enthusiasts are recorded as suffering injuries on the slopes.
Philippa Makepeace, The FCO's head of consular assistance, said: "We'd encourage everyone who is travelling to take just a few minutes to check that they are covered for all the activities they have planned and any medical conditions have been declared.
"This small step can help ensure that you get the support you need should anything go wrong, and avoid potentially huge costs if you are not appropriately covered.
Heading out on the slopes can be fun, and as you get older, its increasingly important to stay active. But it's also important to have plans in place should you sustain an injury on the slopes by taking out winter sports travel insurance.
15 December 2018
Older people are 50% more likely to take themselves to A&E if they live alone, a new study has revealed.
[more...]
14 December 2018
Over 4.3 million older people in the UK are at risk of not getting the care they need just because of their postcode, new research has revealed.
13 December 2018
Space tourism could move one giant leap closer this week as Virgin Galactic expects to reach "space altitudes" for the first time.
12 December 2018
If you're worried about piling on the pounds this Christmas, regular home weighing could prevent you from excessive festive eating and drinking.
11 December 2018
Airlines that automatically cancel return flights when passengers fail to show for their outbound journeys are being warned they risk breaking consumer law.
08 December 2018
Providing better conditions for disabled passengers is one of the main aims of a proposed new charter for airlines and airports.
07 December 2018
Women who don't attend cervical screenings should be offered testing kits they can use at home, new research suggests.
06 December 2018
Ryanair could be slapped with enforcement action from the airline regulator after it refused compensation for passengers hit by flight disruption caused by staff taking strike action.
05 December 2018
Protein supplements and muscle training could be the most effective ways to delay or reverse the effects of frailty, a new study suggests.
04 December 2018
Mumford and Sons bassist Ted Dwane has helped create a new exhibition to raise awareness of the loneliness felt by people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
01 December 2018
A leading charity has praised the actions of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, saying the Labour MP had "done everybody a service" by disclosing his HIV status.
30 November 2018
Sweating out the daily stresses in a sauna could be linked to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in people aged 50 and over, according to a new study.