Your Complete Guide to Different Types Of Sports Travel Insurance

If you are thinking about planning a sports or adventure holiday like a hiking trip, it’s important to think carefully about travel insurance. The right coverage will guarantee that you are financially protected if anything goes wrong or if you sustain an injury while you are on your trip. However, there are some key points that you must be aware of before arranging this type of coverage.

Does Standard Insurance Cover Sports?

Standard insurance will usually provide coverage for activities that are considered low-risk. This could include camping and fishing. However, it will not cover extreme or adventurous sporting activities. While individual policies may differ this typically includes activities such as:

• Skiing
• Scuba diving
• Biking
• Hiking
• Boating

Instead, if you are planning on engaging in activities like this while travelling, you should explore adventure sports travel insurance.

What Do You Need to Know When Arranging Sports Travel Insurance?

If you are planning on engaging in activities that could be considered high-risk, you should inform an insurance provider of your specific plans. This should include the sport or activity that is part of your travel agenda.

Doing so will allow them to assess levels of risk and ensure that you are provided with the full coverage you need. It’s worth noting that insurance providers will always have varied views on the level of risk associated with different sports.

The Different Types of Sports Travel Insurance

There are various types of sports travel insurance available from insurance providers. The right choice will depend on the activity you are interested in.

Skiing

A winter sports insurance policy will provide you with coverage for activities including skiing and snowboarding. This may ensure that you are financially protected from issues with loss, theft or damage to your skis as well as personal liability if you accidentally injure someone else on the slopes.

Biking

Biking for leisure while on your trip will be covered under your insurance policy. Anything else and you will require cycling insurance, particularly, if this is the main reason for your trip. Cycling insurance can provide protection for races, bike theft, and any accidental damage to your bike or injuries. Specific coverage options will largely depend on the provider you choose.

Hiking and Walking

Are you planning a walking holiday? Hiking and walking could be considered an extreme or high-risk activity by some insurance providers. This will often depend on the location that you are travelling to, the duration of your trip and whether there are any mitigating factors. An example could be an existing health condition or if other adventurous activities are part of your plan. For instance, you could be thinking about going wild water swimming while hiking or rock climbing. Activities like this will always increase the level of risk associated with your trip.

If you are thinking about hiking or walking for a longer period such as several months, then you can also consider backpacker insurance. This is specifically designed for longer trips.

Can Hiking Be Covered with Standard Travel Insurance?

Hiking may be covered understand travel insurance plans. However, there will be certain exclusions. If you are travelling to altitudes that are above 2,000m, then you will require specific cover for trekking.

Specialist insurance options are available for higher altitudes.

You will also only be covered for hiking if you are using the right safety equipment and gear.

It’s likely that you won’t be covered if trekking is the main purpose of your holiday. So, if your starting point is checking out a hiking holiday travel guide website, you’ll likely need specialist adventure sports travel insurance.

Standard insurance will typically not provide you with personal accident or liability coverage. You should also always check your travel insurance policy documents to see if hiking is covered.

Boating

Boating is covered under water sports travel insurance policies along with similar adventurous choices such as water skiing, jet skiing and scuba diving. Water sports travel insurance policies will usually cover medical bills as well as any damage to the equipment you are using.

Do You Need To Inform Your Insurance Provider About An Existing Health Condition?

If you have an existing health condition which increases the risk of certain sports activities, then you must inform your adventure sports travel insurance provider. If you fail to do this, then it could mean that your insurance is deemed void when you attempt to make a claim and the condition is discovered.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key elements that you should consider when arranging sports travel insurance. The general rule of thumb is that if an activity is the main reason for you travelling, then you will require special insurance regardless of perceived levels of risk.