Going skiing? Don't forget your travel insurance

By Joel Stanier

One in five people who are 'hitting the slopes' this winter are considering travelling without insurance, according to research by Barclays - and could be putting their financial security at risk as a result.

Injuries from extreme sports like these aren't the only pain for skiers and snowboarders: it's also the cost of fixing those injuries. Barclays says treatment for a broken leg costs on average £1,100 in Europe and a massive £9,000 in North America - and that doesn't include the cost of ambulances or medication.

Even more minor injuries, such as sprains, can cost a lot to treat, the report adds.

Kieran Murphy, Managing Director of Barclays Insurance said: "Even experienced winter sports enthusiasts can have an accident, so it is essential to check you have adequate travel insurance in place so you don't get hurt financially too."

An insurance expert at Think Money commented: "With health treatment mostly free on the NHS in this country, it's sometimes difficult to imagine quite how expensive foreign health treatment can be. The reality is that suffering an injury abroad could deal a major blow to your finances.

"Travel insurance doesn't have to be expensive, and in fact many bank accounts now offer it as an additional extra. However, travellers should very carefully check the terms of their policy to make sure they're covered for things like personal injury if they're planning on partaking in any risky activities." Image © iStockPhotos

Tags: travelling, insurance, Barclays, travel insurance, NHS

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