2009-2010 Trip Insurance Information
Skiing involves considerable expense and the inherent risk of injury. We strongly encourage our members to evaluate their individual need for insurance in the event they have to cancel a trip or become injured while skiing. Our recent experience has been that these situations arise each ski season.
Numerous companies offer travel insurance. This insurance falls into two general categories. The first is
cancellation insurance, which provides coverage in the event an individual cannot make the trip because of
unforeseen circumstances. While the club will attempt to recover as much of the trip cost as possible for
the individual, there is no guarantee that this will be successful. The second is medical insurance, which
generally provides for payment of expenses associated with treatment, medical evacuation and repatriation.
It is necessary to read the details associated with each insurance package to determine exactly what is
being covered and the amounts and limitations of that coverage.The Pentagon Ski Club Council has decided to include medical insurance coverage in our European trips (i.e., our September 2009 Greek Odyssey, this-winter's trips to Engelberg and Bormio, and our June 2010 Baltic Sea Cruise) for all participants as part of the basic trip cost. This is being done to deal with the potentially difficult situation where a member is not able to board the airplane to return with the group. A severe injury requiring hospitalization could result in one of our members being alone in a foreign hospital after the group has returned home. This is the point at which having medical insurance that includes evacuation and repatriation becomes invaluable. The insurance company may provide support to assist the member while hospitalized and assist in arranging the trip home. This may include a medical escort if that is necessary. Such insurance would also normally provide coverage for the expense of medical treatment which could be significant. Note: This is emergency medical coverage only; it is not cancellation coverage, and will not provide any relief if you have to cancel from the trip before it departs, whether for medical or other reasons.
The Council has also decided not to deal directly with insurance other than for our European trips. This is a necessary step to avoid potential liability issues arising from possible misrepresentation of insurance coverage or omissions in processing insurance payments and applications.
Some of our trip brokers offer, as a convenience to trip participants, various types of insurance coverage. The fact that this coverage is being offered by the trip broker for non-European trips does not imply that this coverage is endorsed by the club. Our trip leaders will not become involved in arranging insurance coverage:
Pre-Existing Conditions
Coverage for pre-existing conditions can be particularly tricky. It is best to purchase insurance at the same time you initially sign up for a trip, not only to have the best chance of covering pre-existing conditions, but also so that you are in fact covered during all the months prior to the trip.
Members may have existing health insurance that provides coverage for potential problems in the US or
Canada. Companies that sell supplemental travel insurance can be found by doing a search on the Internet.
One site of particular help might be
InsureMyTrip.com. This site provides a comparison of various insurance offerings. Annual travel policies are also
available for people who travel extensively.
The key thing to remember when dealing with insurance issues is to read the details of the policy. You
should request these from the company providing the insurance.