Get covered to avoid any painful slips on the slopes

Take the example of a person who skied into a sign post in Vermont in the US. They sustained a broken femur, requiring an operation to repair. Ten days hospitalisation followed with all the associated medical costs. Then ground ambulances had to be paid for in both the US and UK with a return flight on business class for both the patient and parent.

The cost was 32,000. Fortunately, the injured person was covered and esure insurance picked up the bill. Skiing in North America is notoriously expensive if anything goes wrong which is why insurance companies often quote higher premiums for outside Europe.

Aviva handled a claim for a 40-year-old who experienced chest pains whilst on a US holiday. A quadruple heart by-pass was needed and a doctor escort home, resulting in a 270,000 claim.

At the holiday planning stage – before going into a travel agents – check if you are protected for winter sports. It is included with some bank packages, credit cards and even contents insurance. However, it's a good idea to look at the scope of such 'complimentary' cover to see that it meets your needs.

Since January last year, the sale of travel insurance has been regulated by the Financial Services Authority. This should prevent travel shops insisting that their expensive and often not comprehensive cover is taken out.

To select the right cover, decide on:

n frequency of travel: would it be better value to have annual cover, protecting for several holidays?

n length of cover and likely destination;

n individual or family;

n fully inclusive or omitting items already insured under a home contents policy;

n how sporty you are likely to be (as policies differ on activities insured).

It's a simple mistake to think that the complimentary European Health Insurance Card, known as EHIC, will protect for European winter sports. Whilst it will provide limited medical help on a reciprocal basis, such as up to 80 per cent in specific state hospitals in France, it can leave you severely out of pocket.

The EHIC will not cover rescue services (such as the cost of mountain airlift), additional accommodation and travel costs if treatment is required or repatriation. You would also be without the support and advice of 24-hour helplines run with multilingual staff.

Yet holding an EHIC should cut medical bills and could mean your excess (the first part of any claim) is not deducted. AXA, for instance, waives the excess under its direct policy where the EHIC has reduced the cost of a medical claim.

For an EHIC, apply to PO Box 854, Newcastle upon Tyne NE99 2DE. Forms are obtainable from post offices.

Have insurance in place before any financial outlay is made. Unforeseen cancellation may arise at any stage. A little homework in advance could ensure the right level of cover as well as premium.

Always reveal any pre-existing medical conditions so that underwriters know their risks. A condition like diabetes, although relatively common, may not fit easily into a computerised questionnaire. In such an event, seek a specialist insurer, like Heath Lambert.

Don't forget to also answer in respect of your family: those whose illness or death would mean cancelling or curtailing a winter sports break. Ask for a definition of 'family' as the interpretation is far wider on some policies than others.

Travel agent First Choice uses Mondial Assistance as its winter sports insurer. A week's holiday costs 40.99 in Europe and 84.99 worldwide per adult (18-64 years) but 84.99 and 179.99 respectively for a family.

A ski operator like Inghams, using Fogg Travel Insurance, quotes 45 and 85 for an individual and 92 and 155 per family for the same period. Yet its annual premiums are 76 and 94 (adult) and 154 and 199 (family) which includes up to 17 days winter sports. Halifax extends its annual cover to 24 days for winter sports.

M&S Money offers annual family cover for 150 under its Premier policy. This protects a couple with four children under 18 years or up to 23 if in full-time education.

Watch the range of sports that you can enjoy. There's no point in deciding at the last minute! Most include sledging and snow-mobiling. The Post Office has a long list of approved activities including heli-skiing, speed skiing, husky riding and snow parascending.

There can be confusion if skiing off-piste is protected. Many insurers – like Hiscox under its 606 home insurance policy – will allow this provided you are accompanied by a qualified guide or instructor.

Make a note of all possessions so that in the event of a claim you have good details, notably serial numbers for cameras. All equipment needs to be locked away and out of sight, which means in a glove compartment, under a car seat or in a boot.

Report any loss or theft to the policy within 24 hours of discovery and obtain a written police report.

Tempting as it is to leave skis on a car roof rack or outside a restaurant, insurers will not cover if damaged or stolen. This is why alpine hotels offer storage facilities.

Yorkshire Bank will cover up to 500 for ski equipment and 300 for ski hire. It will also protect for such other problems as avalanche closure (250), piste closure (300) and loss of ski pack (500), based on an adult with an annual multi-trip policy.

The premium can sometimes be reduced by opting out of certain benefits, such as baggage cover if you are already protected under household insurance for personal belongings taken abroad. However, this may not extend to delayed baggage which can ruin the start of a winter sports holiday.

Few policies cover for the collapse of a tour operator, airline or travel agent. In the current economic climate, consider adding Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance for peace of mind.

Finally, stay within your limits. If you are a new skier, take professional lessons and don't rely on friends or family to teach you.

Bring fitness levels up beforehand and don't attempt activities beyond your ability. Remember that medical expenses that result from the influence of alcohol or drugs are often excluded from travel insurance and so, don't drink and ski!

Insurance that proved invaluable

Anina Holmes from York was only on the second day on the ski slopes when her accident occurred. A keen skier, having regularly enjoyed winter sports holidays, she was bumped into as she got off a chair lift. This caused her to fall and fracture her pelvis.

Anina, 51, had to be brought down the mountain at the French resort of Mozine near Geneva and then spent two days in hospital before being brought back home by air ambulance.

The costs amounted to over 6,765, mostly by 4,000 air ambulance, 300 mountain rescue, 870 hospitalisation, 800 ambulance in France and 450 ambulance in the UK. Fortunately both she and her husband, Nick, had taken out annual family travel cover – which also included their two children – through Aviva, formerly Norwich Union.

She paid the French doctor's bill by credit card which was then reclaimed from Aviva, who reduced their costs by using Anina's EHIC.

The premium was 88.95 with a 50 excess. Anina says Aviva was "good at keeping in touch" and in organising a plane for her transport home. The aircraft was even delayed coming out by 24 hours owing to snow in the UK. It landed in Doncaster and she was transported to York.