Is winter sports cover mandatory?

You need to add winter sports cover to your travel insurance if you’re heading to the slopes. It comes at an additional cost, but if you don’t include it on your policy, you won’t be able to make a claim for any winter sports-related incidents. If you’re unlucky enough to need medical attention, not having the right cover could cost you a considerable amount.

Winter sports cover with a Post Office Travel Insurance policy gives you extra protection for your downhill holiday. That includes off-piste skiing and snowboarding, as long as you're within the resort's boundaries and in recognised areas. 

What’s covered?

Add the winter sports cover option to any Post Office Travel Insurance policy for this extra protection. The cover will cost you an additional premium.

Skiing, snowboarding, airboarding and more

It’s not just skiing and snowboarding. Whether it’s ski-blading, airboarding, skidooing, tobogganing or snowmobiling, there are plenty of winter sports we can cover you for2, off piste as well as on3

Emergency medical support and evacuation

Your policy includes access to an emergency medical helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You're also covered for repatriation to your home country

Lost, damaged or stolen equipment 

Whether you’ve your own equipment or you’ve hired some, we can cover loss, theft or damage. Terms and conditions apply. Check out our policy wording for details

Piste closure

It can be fun to go up the mountain when the weather’s heavy, but when there’s no snow at all, there’s no point. If the piste is closed because there’s no snow, you could make a claim

2 Limitations may apply.

3 Within recognised resorts and boundaries.

Choose a travel insurance cover level

The table shows the maximum cover limits available with ski and winter sports cover for each of our cover levels, as well as some of the cover included as standard with Post Office Travel Insurance.

Policy wording

Economy

£125 excess

Ski equipment

Up to £500

Ski pack (including Ski Pass)

Up to £300

Ski hire (per day/max)

Up to £25/£250

Piste closure (per day/max)

Up to £25/£250

Avalanche cover

Up to £150

Emergency medical expenses and getting you back home

Up to £5 million

Cancellation and cutting short your trip

Up to £1,000

Baggage (personal possessions)

Up to £1,500

Missed departure

N/A

Standard

£99 excess

Ski equipment

Up to £500

Ski pack (including Ski Pass)

Up to £300

Ski hire (per day/max)

Up to £25/£250

Piste closure (per day/max)

Up to £25/£250

Avalanche cover

Up to £250

Emergency medical expenses and getting you back home

Up to £10 million

Cancellation and cutting short your trip

Up to £3,000

Baggage (personal possessions)

Up to £2,000

Missed departure

Up to £750

Premier

£50 excess

defaqto five star award logo

Ski equipment

Up to £1,000

Ski pack (including Ski Pass)

Up to £400

Ski hire (per day/max)

Up to £50/£500

Piste closure (per day/max)

Up to £50/£500

Avalanche cover

Up to £350

Emergency medical expenses and getting you back home

Up to £15 million

Cancellation and cutting short your trip

Up to £5,000

Baggage (personal possessions)

Up to £3,000

Missed departure

Up to £1,500

Ski equipment

Ski equipment

Up to £500

Ski equipment

Up to £500

Ski equipment

Up to £1,000

Ski pack (including Ski Pass)

Ski pack (including Ski Pass)

Up to £300

Ski pack (including Ski Pass)

Up to £300

Ski pack (including Ski Pass)

Up to £400

Ski hire (per day/max)

Ski hire (per day/max)

Up to £25/£250

Ski hire (per day/max)

Up to £25/£250

Ski hire (per day/max)

Up to £50/£500

Piste closure (per day/max)

Piste closure (per day/max)

Up to £25/£250

Piste closure (per day/max)

Up to £25/£250

Piste closure (per day/max)

Up to £50/£500

Avalanche cover

Avalanche cover

Up to £150

Avalanche cover

Up to £250

Avalanche cover

Up to £350

Emergency medical expenses and getting you back home

Emergency medical expenses and getting you back home

Up to £5 million

Emergency medical expenses and getting you back home

Up to £10 million

Emergency medical expenses and getting you back home

Up to £15 million

Cancellation and cutting short your trip

Cancellation and cutting short your trip

Up to £1,000

Cancellation and cutting short your trip

Up to £3,000

Cancellation and cutting short your trip

Up to £5,000

Baggage (personal possessions)

Baggage (personal possessions)

Up to £1,500

Baggage (personal possessions)

Up to £2,000

Baggage (personal possessions)

Up to £3,000

Missed departure

Missed departure

N/A

Missed departure

Up to £750

Missed departure

Up to £1,500

All medical conditions considered

Having a health condition shouldn't stop you enjoying winter sports. With the right cover, you can join friends and family in the mountains with peace of mind.

Post Office covers a lot of pre-existing medical conditions, just be sure to declare everything when you get a quote to get the cover right for you. If we’re not able to offer you a policy, we’ll refer you to a specialist provider which may be able to help. 

You can also check the Money and Pensions Scheme (MaPS) directory. It lists companies that may be able to help you. Or call 0800 138 7777.

Medical Assistance Plus: 24/7 doctor access included on all policies

Not sure about a swollen ankle? Or how to best treat a particularly nasty bruise? This is where Medical Assistance Plus1 can help.

Included in all policies with no claim or excess required, you can chat to an English-speaking doctor via video call, so you don't need to lose a day on the slopes because you're looking for non-emergency medical advice.

They can even have prescriptions delivered to your nearest pharmacy to help you get the treatment ASAP.

Ready to get a quote?

Let’s find the protection that’s right for your travels. Get a quote for Post Office Travel Insurance

An award-winning provider

Personal Finance Winner 2026 award

Best Travel Insurance Provider

Post Office won a “Best Travel Insurance Provider” award at the Your Money Awards in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, and 2026

MoneyFacts Best Travel Insurance Provider 2026 award

Best Travel Insurance Provider

Post Office won a ‘Best Travel Insurance Provider’ award at the MoneyFacts Awards in 2024, 2025 and 2026

Defaqto 5-star rated cover

Our travel insurance policies with premier level cover are Defaqto 5-star rated

Common questions

  • Taking part in winter sports can carry much higher risks than those you'll face on other types of holiday. It’s important to make sure that, as well as taking part in winter sports safely and responsibly, you have cover in case something goes wrong. This cover also provides protection for things that can happen to your equipment, such as loss, theft or damage.

  • Whether you have your own equipment or you’re hiring it, replacements can be expensive if they have to come out of your pocket. If you're going on a trip involving winter sports, then adding this cover is mandatory.  It's not just your equipment that needs to be covered but you as well. We can help you if you’re taken ill while on the mountain or get injured, and if the weather decides to dry up and there’s no snow on the piste, we can help restore the balance. 

  • UK citizens travelling in EU countries can access some state-provided healthcare there for free or at a reduced cost. You'll need a UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) or, if it’s still in date, a European Health Insurance Card (Ehic).

    Remember, neither card covers any additional cost to return you to the UK or for a relative to stay or fly out to be with you. In a medical emergency you may have no control over the hospital you are taken to or the closest hospital may be private. But medical travel insurance may be able to cover some of the cost for you.

    Also, Ehic no longer provides access to healthcare services in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland for UK nationals in most cases.

  • Read more travel insurance FAQs

Need some help?

Travel insurance help and support

For emergency medical assistance, to make a claim, find answers to common questions about our cover or get in touch:

Visit our travel insurance support page

Travel insurance policy types

  • Single-trip cover

    Single-trip Travel Insurance

    • Cover for a one-off trip in the UK or abroad
    • Perfect for one-off trips or longer holidays of up to 365 days4
    • No age limit 
  • Annual multi-trip cover

    • Cover for multiple-trips for a 12-month period 
    • 31-day trip limit, with extensions available up to 45 and 60 days
    • Available for everyone aged up to 75 years 
  • Backpacker cover

    • Cover for a one-off trip up to 18 months 
    • Option to return home for up to 7 days on 3 occasions. 
    • For people aged 18 – 60 wanting to travel the world for a gap year or career break 

About our travel insurance

Post Office®  Travel Insurance is arranged by Post Office Limited and Post Office Management Services Limited.

Post Office Limited is an appointed representative of Post Office Management Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 630318. Post Office Limited (company number 02154540) and Post Office Management Services Limited (company number 08459718) are registered in England and Wales. Registered Offices: Post Office Limited, 100 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7ER. Post Office Management Services Limited: 2nd Floor, MYO, One New Change, London EC4M 9AF. Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trademarks of Post Office Limited.

The above details can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting the Financial Conduct Authority website and searching by Firm Reference Number (FRN).

Things you need to know

4For economy, standard and premier policies, the single-trip policy will cover you for one trip up to:

  • 365 days for those aged up to and including 70 years

  • 90 days for those aged between 71 and 75

  • 31 days for those aged 76 years and above