Money and insurance
Diving, skiing and trekking: the insurance that actually covers them
A basic policy excludes exactly what you went there to do. Which activities are left out, what to ask and what the add-on usually costs.
Claudia Ferrán 5 min Photo by Benoît Deschasaux on Unsplash The pattern repeats every season: someone buys cheap travel insurance, gets hurt skiing or diving, and discovers the activity was excluded on page eleven.
What a basic policy usually leaves out
- Scuba diving, and sometimes even with an instructor.
- Skiing and snowboarding, especially off-piste.
- Trekking above a certain altitude, which in Nepal or the Andes you reach without trying.
- Motorbikes and quads, even rented to get around an island.
- Climbing, paragliding, rafting and anything with the word adventure in the brochure.
The fourth line generates the most claims in Southeast Asia: renting a motorbike is normal there, and riding one without the right licence leaves you outside any cover.
The questions to ask before buying
- Is this specific activity covered, under this name?
- Is there an altitude or depth limit?
- Does it cover mountain or sea rescue, which is the big bill?
- Does it require the activity to be with a guide or a licensed operator?
- And the country's driving licence for rented vehicles?
The third is decisive: medical assistance pays for itself compared with a helicopter rescue.
What it costs and what it prevents
The activities add-on is usually a small fraction of the policy price, and of the trip price. Compared with what a rescue or an evacuation from a mountain area costs, the argument closes itself.
The rest of the usual exclusions are in what travel insurance really covers.
Frequently asked questions
Does my insurance cover diving or skiing?
Basic policies tend to exclude them, along with high-altitude trekking, motorbikes, climbing or rafting. You need the activities add-on.
Which cover is the important one?
Mountain or sea rescue, which is the big bill. Medical assistance is cheap by comparison.
Can I rent a motorbike on a trip?
You can, but you need the right licence for that country. Without it, the insurance may not cover the claim.
How much does extending the policy cost?
Usually a small fraction of the policy price, and a very small one compared with a rescue.
