National Society

Let’s face it, one of the big bright spots in the depth of winter is the prospect of getting away to the mountains for a winter sports break with friends or family.  But while dreaming of log built chalets, mulled wine, fondues and crisp mountain air, winter sports enthusiasts should not forget to think about their travel insurance plan as well.

While winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding can be great fun, the reality is that activities such as these carry with them a risk of injury.  Even the best skiers and snowboarders can fall foul of amateurs on the piste, and every year a number of happy holidaymakers end up being stretchered down the mountain for treatment after a fall or collision.

Basic travel insurance policies will not cover medical costs if an injury is sustained while indulging in winter sports activities, so specialised insurance is a must.

In the event of an accident a winter spots insurance policy will cover the price of treatment in the country of destination and, in extreme cases, repatriation with medical assistance following accident or injury.

Winter sports insurance is also important for skiers and snowboarders who will be travelling with expensive sporting equipment such as skis, snowboards, boots and bindings, which can be lost or damaged in transit – leaving those with insufficient insurance cover out of pocket.

Winter sports enthusiasts should, however, note that their policy is unlikely to cover them for injuries sustained while skiing or snowboarding off piste or in the event that they have injured themselves while under the influence of alcohol.

A number of years ago, if you lived within a flood risk area, it was really difficult to obtain house insurance.  However, this actually changed back in 2003 when an agreement was formed between the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and all of their members.  This has been a lifeline to those who previously struggled to insure their homes.

Flood damage is devastating for the home owner.  It is also costly to home insurance providers.  However, work is continuing by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop and maintain flood defences.  The agreement between the ABI and its member bodies will remain in force as long as this work continues.

Of course, this does not mean that each member company of ABI will assess the risk associated to a particular property in the same way.  That said, the systems which insurers can access are now much more sophisticated than they used to be.  Many properties  that were previously considered a flood risk because they were near other flood risk properties can now be excluded from this risk locale and, as such, enjoy standardised insurance rates.

The environment agency developed the flood map and each home is rated according to low, moderate and significant risk of flooding.  The premiums are obviously likely to increase as the level of risk does.  However, as more flood defence work is completed the insurance companies will have access to this updated information and premiums will alter accordingly.

Within the category of home insurance, many subdivisions and specialised types exist.  In addition to buildings and contents insurance, there are other options when obtaining cover for unusual items and situations.

Student possession insurance, a type of contents insurance, is one such category.  This insures that the unsecured possessions of a student, since they are by nature at a higher risk of theft, are protected.  Such policies protect items for loss, theft, and damage due to frequent travel or long periods of time when the student is away.  High end items such as CD players, video game consoles, and laptops are also covered by many such policies.

Expatriate or holiday home insurance is a similar type of policy that protects personal belongings during an extended time away from home.  In these situations, a regular buildings and contents insurance program might lapse and the homeowner or renter would lose coverage.  With holiday home insurance, the goods and structures of the home are covered while the owner is away for an extended amount of time.

Work from home insurance is another unique variety. In this type of plan, individuals who work from home can protect their office equipment, valuable work-related items and paperwork, and the structure of their home.  Since the home is being used as both a residence and workspace, speciality house insurance is required to guarantee that all interests are protected.

Under special circumstances such as those mentioned above, you might need to consider stretching to an improved house insurance plan to protect your possessions.