Winter sports injuries could cost an arm and a leg!
Now that the ski season has officially closed in most resorts – its time for the insurance companies to start totting up the injury totals! Please always remember to be insured and that going off-piste with many insurance companies does nullify any insurance!
- Average winter sports injury in USA and Canada costs £2,863 to treat(1)
- Knee, lower leg and shoulder injuries the most common winter sports complaints(1)
- Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance offers up to 25% discount when you apply online(2)
Analysis(1) of winter sports injury claims reveals that despite a 40% decrease in the average claims value between the winter of 2009/10 and 2010/11, North America remains the most expensive country to suffer from an injury on the slopes. Over the last two winters, Bulgaria remains the country with the lowest average claim value, of £493, when compared with other top winter sports destinations.
The research also indicates some notable individual country increases in claim value during the 2010/11 winter season. The average value of travel insurance claims in Austria was £1,393, up 7% from the previous year, and in France the average claim during this time was £960, a 13% increase on the previous season.
The analysis from Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance also reveals that the most common travel insurance claim related to winter sports activity is for a knee injury (31%) followed by injuries to the lower leg (13%) and shoulder (11%). The most expensive injuries to treat are those relating to the back, where the average cost of a claim last year was over £2,700. The average cost of a head injury is over £2,280 and injuries to the upper leg, hip or pelvis on average cost more than £2,220.
Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance is urging those heading off to winter sports destinations this Easter to ensure they have their European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) and also comprehensive travel insurance before they leave.
David Barrett, Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance Manager, said: “When family household budgets are squeezed, naturally people will look for ways to try and cut costs but travel insurance is as essential as packing your passport. As our research shows, medical treatment for winter sports-related injuries can be hugely expensive, particularly if you need to be transported off a mountain by helicopter.
“If skiers and snowboarders are going to a European Union destination they should make sure they have an EHIC, which provides access to the state-provided healthcare in the country they are visiting at a reduced cost or sometimes free of charge. However, it’s advisable to also have comprehensive travel insurance wherever you are skiing or boarding in the world as an EHIC will not cover you for everything, such as being airlifted from the slopes or repatriated back home, for example.”
Sainsbury’s multi-trip travel insurance offers:
- Up to 25% discount when you apply online.(2)
- Take any number of trips per year – up to 60 days per trip (up to 24 days for winter sports in any one insurance period)
- Travel disruption cover, which includes scheduled airline failure cover, is included with the Standard option of a Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance policy(3)
- Tailor your medical care to meet your needs
Winter sports average claims costs(1)
| Country | Average value of travel insurance claims linked to winter sports injuries during winter 2009/10 season | Average value of travel insurance claims linked to winter sports injuries during winter 2010/11 season | Percentage change 2009/10 to 2010/11 seasons |
| USA/Canada | £4,750 | £2,863 | -39.73% |
| Austria | £1,300 | £1,393 | 7.15% |
| France | £850 | £960 | 12.94% |
| Italy | £1,400 | £819 | -41.49% |
| Switzerland | £1,250 | £737 | -41.01% |
| Bulgaria | £750 | £493 | -34.27% |
Top 10 most common winter sports related injuries(1)
| Top 10 most common winter sports related travel insurance claims winter 2010/2011 | Percentage of winter sports related Sainsbury’s travel insurance claims | Average cost of claim |
| Knee | 31% | £755 |
| Lower leg | 13% | £1,235 |
| Shoulder | 11% | £671 |
| Wrist/hand | 10% | £484 |
| Upper leg/hip/pelvis | 7% | £2,226 |
| Head injury | 7% | £2,286 |
| Ankle/foot | 6% | £482 |
| Upper arm/elbow | 4% | £907 |
| Back | 4% | £2,706 |
| Contusions/lacerations | 3% | £356 |
To obtain a Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance quote you can log onto www.sainsburysbank.co.uk or call 0800 316 1452 . Lines are open 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am – 7pm Saturday, and 9am – 5pm on Sunday.
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