Travel Insurance for Backcountry & Off-piste Skiing or Snowboarding

Despite the dangers of this extreme sport, backcountry recreationalists can be covered by travel insurance. If you’re a recreational backcountry skier or splitboarder planning to enjoy the backcountry or slackcountry this winter, TuGo’s Emergency Medical Travel Insurance and optional add-on Sports & Activities Coverage will cover you for misadventures both on and off the mountain, and on and off-piste too!

Search and Rescue is free, but hospital bills aren’t

As a backcountry skier or snowboarder, you spend a lot of time thinking about avalanche safety, following Avalanche Canada’s bulletins, practicing rescues and researching the terrain, all to avoid avalanches, of course. However, good backcountry trip preparation involves more than just life-or-death avalanche experiences.

To be truly well-prepared, plan ahead for risks related to higher altitudes and injuries in case of accidents. Don’t just think of avalanches and consider other possible risks: exhaustion, hypothermia, dehydration, fractures, concussions, falling into tree wells, getting caught in unexpected weather or under falling rock, on the mountain or even just slipping in the parking lot before you even hit the slopes.

If you’re in a genuine emergency in the backcountry, your ski party members along with Search and Rescue (SAR) will likely be your first line of assistance. SAR volunteers will transport you to the nearest road or medical facility, but the ensuing ambulance rides, hospital expenses and follow up costs, (not to mention repatriation, trip cancellation or interruption costs), will be up to you.

The cost of an air ambulance alone from a Search and Rescue station to a main hospital, for example, can come as quite a shock. It’s common for injured backcountry skiers to need a hospital transfer too; many of the small hospitals nearby don’t offer a full range of care. TuGo Travel Insurance covers licensed helicopter ambulances, a benefit you’ll need, as more often than not, an injury in the backcountry requires helicopter airlift.

Why you need travel insurance, even in Canada

If you’re travelling out-of-province or across the border, don’t expect your provincial healthcare to cover all the costs of a medical emergency. Same goes for extended medical via your employee group plan benefits or credit card coverage. Many Canadians are still surprised to learn that provincial healthcare covers very little out-of-province, and are often left with insurmountable bills since provincial healthcare plans won’t cover ground or air ambulances, hospital transfers, emergency dental services, or even prescription medications.

What TuGo’s Emergency Medical Insurance covers

Not all policies will cover backcountry recreationalists, but ours does when you purchase Sports & Activities Coverage. For Canadians travelling within Canada or abroad, our Emergency Medical Insurance covers:

• Licensed ground, sea or air ambulance (without the hassle of needing pre-approval).
• Emergency air transport from one hospital to another, when pre-approved and arranged by TuGo. This is particularly helpful for backcountry skiers in remote areas.
• Emergency medical expenses such as:
  • hospital stays and treatment
  • doctor services
  • x-rays
  • prescription medication
  • essential medical appliances
  • dental services
  • family transportation
  • return of excess baggage
  • return of vehicle
  • out-of-pocket expenses

Did you know? If you travel often, a multi trip annual emergency medical plan is a good idea to save yourself time and money. You can get a plan that covers unlimited trips up to a certain length, and just pay once.

Why you should consider Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance too

Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance is also a great idea if you’ve purchased expensive plane tickets, rented vehicles, or reserved huts or hotels in advance. It will help you recoup your costs if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip if you or someone in your ski party is injured.

Avoid rope-ducking to avoid being on the hook for rescue costs

With TuGo, coverage isn’t available if you’re participating, training or practicing in any areas that have been closed off to public access and/or can typically only be accessed by crossing a fenced, gated or roped-off area that has been marked as off limits according to recommendations of safety authorities in the area. So don’t be a “rope-ducker”!

Although Search and Rescue will rescue any injured or lost victim, SAR or the resort’s ski-patrol might charge irresponsible individuals for a costly rescue, like these rope-duckers on Grouse Mountain, back in 2009. They were billed for their rescue costs and banned from the resort for life. Needless to say, travel insurance doesn’t cover this kind of thing.

Have questions that weren’t considered? Let us know below!

Enjoy those fresh tracks, and happy travels!

Melissa