4 reasons to invest in insurance for your ski holiday this year

Thinking about skiing this year? You might want to think about investing in insurance before you start packing your gear. We show you why.

Winter is just around the corner. That means hot chocolate and cosy nights by the fire are on the agenda.

But more importantly, it means days shredding up fresh powder on the slopes!

Hold your horses, though. Before you grab your skis or snowboard, you might want to consider some insurance.

After all, the snow can be a pretty wild ride. And if you end up taking a nasty tumble, you want to make sure you have some cover for expenses you may have afterwards.

1. You can get cover for accidental injuries

Now, no one really likes to think about the possibility of having an accident. But the truth is skiing is a high-risk activity.

Whether you're a complete novice or an experienced black run rider, you can still find yourself taking a tumble on the snow.

Even relatively minor injuries like a sprain can lead to needing some time off work once you get back from your holiday.

So it makes sense to have some insurance in place. That way, if you do have an accident and need some extra cash to cover costs, you won't find yourself wildly out of pocket.

What type of insurance should you get though?

Travel and health insurance might seem like logical fits at a glance, but they also tend to have caveats around undertaking high-risk activities.

Conversely, a provider like Flip Insurance offers accidental injury coverage which provides lump sum payments for a range of injuries and doesn't exclude activities such as skiing or snowboarding.

2. You can switch it on and off

Insurance often tends to be associated with lengthy, ongoing policies and convoluted contracts. That can be a real nuisance, especially if you're just going on a short holiday.

The good news is some providers offer insurance on an as-needed basis rather than requiring you to pay upfront or take out an extended policy.

One example is Flip Insurance. It allows you to take out a monthly subscription if you want – handy if you're going on a longer-term high-impact holiday – but you can also just opt to take out cover on a weekly or even daily basis.

This way, you're able to get coverage for the days you're hitting the slopes without paying for the days that you're not.

It also means that if an impromptu activity pops up, you can get cover on the go without needing to wade through setting up a separate policy.

3. It can be combined with other health or travel insurance policies

One of the advantages of accidental injury insurance is it doesn't negate other travel insurance or health insurance policies you may already have in place.

Accidental injury insurance provides coverage towards the immediate costs you may have after an injury.

For example, you may have immediate medical expenses that need to be covered or you need to replace some lost income from being unable to work. That's where a policy like Flip Insurance can step in.

However, it doesn't need to replace your other policies, which are usually oriented around a more comprehensive range of coverage.

For example, you might still use travel insurance for replacing lost luggage or passports from travel insurance, or health insurance for long-term hospital stays.

4. Simple claims process

If you do need to make a claim while you're on holiday, time is usually of the essence. So you want to look for an insurer that provides an easy claims process to keep things smooth.

A policy with a simple claims process can make things substantially easier when you're trying to recover from an injury and get yourself back on track.

Flip Insurance allows you to process a claim in 5 minutes or less once you've gathered all of the relevant evidence for your claim.

If the claim is approved, funds are then paid directly to you – rather than to your medical providers – so you're able to use the funds as you need and want to. Recovery is different for everyone, so it's important to have flexibility around how you use the payout.

• Extra info about Flip Insurance

  *Flip advice is general in nature. We don't take into account your personal circumstances, so please consider how appropriate it is for you before purchasing. Read our PDS, FSG and TMD available at flipinsurance.com.au before purchasing, too. HCF Life Insurance Company Pty Ltd (HCF Life) is the issuer of Flip Insurance. Flip Insurance Pty Ltd (Flip Insurance) is a wholly owned subsidiary and authorised representative of HCF Life. HCF Life is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Limited (HCF), and acts on its own behalf. Premiums for Flip cover are paid to HCF Life. HCF receives commission of 80% of HCF Life's underwriting profit each year calculated as premiums less claims and expenses. Flip Insurance may receive remuneration from HCF Life for the financial services it provides in relation to Flip cover. Flip Insurance and HCF Life employees receive a salary, paid by HCF Life, for the financial services they provide in relation to Flip cover. In addition, HCF, HCF Life and Flip Insurance employees may also receive an incentive depending on the total revenue and profitability of Flip products, and for meeting their compliance obligations. This remuneration is provided on a discretionary basis and may vary from time to time.