2007-2008 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.

g 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., this-year's trips to Bariloche/Buenos Aires, Alpe d'Huez, and St. Anton) 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.

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:

  • Insurance from Winter Ski and Sport (WSAS) — WSAS is the tour broker for this-winter's trips to Whistler, Snowbasin/Powder Mountain, Telluride, Sun Peaks/Big White, Mt. Bachelor, Taos and Aspen. In conjunction with these trips, WSAS is offering optional pre-trip (medical) trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance coverage. Additional information, including the specific cost of the insurance, is available from Winter Ski and Sport, 4949 Sabra Lane, Annandale, VA 22003, or contact Dan Ellis: dan@skitherockies.com 1-703-978-5355. An insurance application form which lists the premium cost for each trip is available on this link.


  • Insurance from TravelSafe — Sportours of New Jersey is the tour broker for this-winter's trips to Alta/Snowbird, Steamboat, Lake Tahoe and Sun Valley. In conjunction with these trips, insurance is available from TravelSafe. Click on Buy Now and then Consumers Purchase Here. Enter a Travel Agency Code of SPONJ01; Effie Rubenstein is our travel agent. Select 'Other (not listed)' for the Tour Operator.

    • 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. For people who travel extensively, annual travel policies are also available.

    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.

    		  
             
                     
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