2011-2012 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.Medical Insurance for Trips Outside North America
The Pentagon Ski Club Council has decided to include medical insurance coverage with our November 2011 non-skiing trip to New Zealand and our European ski trips (i.e., our January 2012 Val d'Isère trip and our March 2012 trip to Andorra) 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. Cancellation coverage is available at extra cost directly from our tour operator. Click here for the TravelSafe Insurance Certificate which describes the basic medical/ evacuation/ repatriation coverage as well as the optional trip cancellation coverage for these trips. Our trip leaders will tell you where to send your check to purchase the cancellation insurance.
Trip Insurance for North American Trips
The Council has also decided not to deal directly with insurance other than for our European (or Southern Hemisphere) trips where insurance is included for every participant. 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 for individuals.
Where to Purchase Trip Cancelation Insurance
Some of our tour operators offer, as a convenience to trip participants, various types of insurance coverage. The fact that this coverage is being offered by the tour operators for North American trips does not imply that this coverage is endorsed by the club. Our trip leaders will not become involved in arranging insurance coverage:
- Sportours is our tour operator for this-winter's trips to Steamboat, Whitefish, Snowmass and Jackson Hole. In conjunction with these trips, insurance is available from TravelSafe. Click on one of the listed plans (such as TravelSafe Vacation Classic), then click on the yellow Buy Now link, then on the yellow Enroll Now link in the Consumers section. On the enrollment form, enter a Travel Agency Code of SPONJ01; Effie Rubinstein is our travel agent. Select 'Other - (not listed)' for the Tour Operator.
- Group Trips Unlimited is tour operator for this-winter's trip to Alta/Snowbird. In conjunction with the trip, insurance is available from TravelSafe. Click on one of the listed plans (such as TravelSafe Vacation Classic), then click on the yellow Buy Now link, then on the yellow Enroll Now link in the Consumers section. On the enrollment form, enter a Travel Agency Code of GTUMD01; Judy Miller is our travel agent. Select 'Other - (not listed)' for the Tour Operator.
- Winter Ski and Sport is our tour operator for this-winter's trips to Vail, Snowbasin/Powder Mountain, Mt. Bachelor and Telluride. In conjunction with these trips, WSS is offering optional pre-trip (medical) trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance coverage. A summary of the policy is available in the insurance policy flyer. Click here for detailed information about the coverage including links to an online application form. Dan Ellis is our travel agent. Limitations excluding pre-existing conditions are waived if the policy is purchased within 21 days of making your initial trip deposit. The insurance costs 5% of your total trip cost and can be purchased online with a credit card. The insurance could also be purchased for other trips, i.e., trips brokered by agents other than Winter Ski and Sport.
- Skican is our tour operator for this-winter's trip to Revelstoke. In conjunction with this trip, Skican is offering optional pre-trip (medical) trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance coverage. The insurance (click to see the Certificate of Insurance) must be purchased "when you book your holiday" (i.e., when you sign up for the trip). Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered without written approval. Click here for a summary of the coverage, its cost, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). To purchase the insurance, send a $tbd check, payable to Skican, to the trip leader together with your initial trip deposit.
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 weeks and months prior to the trip.
Alternative Travel Insurance Providers
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.