Winter sports insurance often defies logic. Assessment of what represents an acceptable risk will always vary between underwriters. But skiers and snowboarders comparing policies closely will discover ludicrous anomalies.
Why does one company regard heliskiing as an extreme sport while another covers it at no additional cost? Why should one policy allow off-piste skiing without a guide, while another excludes it? And why should you get compensation when there is too little snow to ski on, but not if there is too much?
Sometimes these absurdities appear to stem from ignorance. Ask your insurers if you are covered to go snowcat skiing. Unless you are insured by a skiing specialist, it is unlikely they will have a clue what you are talking about.
Snowcat skiing is an option in many US and Canadian resorts. It involves travelling off piste to untracked snow by a converted piste machine and is usually cheaper than going by helicopter - but the risks are surely much the same. Yet at least one firm, which covers customers taking the cat, demands extra if they fly.
Even between firms with acknowledged expertise there can be contradictions. Hamilton Barr, for example, will not cover heliskiing if it is booked before you travel, because of the potentially high cancellation cost. Inghams, however, will only provide cover if you pre-book, to ensure you have booked with a reputable operator.
About two things there can be no argument. First, it would be foolish to take no insurance at all. Though many basic medical costs in Europe are covered if you take an E1-11 form, it will not pay for a mountain rescue, which could set you back around £1,000 if a helicopter is needed, and it does not cover additional repatriation costs. Nor does it stretch to North America, where even a relatively minor injury can cost several hundred pounds and the average bill for torn ligaments is around £2,500.
And second, it pays to read the small print. If you plan to stick to piste skiing, there are fewer pitfalls. However, there are certain essentials you should check. Does the policy provide a decent level of liability cover - against the risk that you injure someone who then sues you? You ought to have at least £1 million-worth in North America. Will it cover the hire of skis, boots or clothes if your bags go AWOL? Insurance organised by the Ski Club of Great Britain, for example, pays up to £150 if luggage is delayed - but only if it is more than 24 hours late.
Will you get compensation if you are unable to ski? Until recently, most policies coughed up only if customers were frustrated by too little snow.
The spate of avalanches two seasons ago caused a rethink. Some insurers now pay out if such hazards force the closure of pistes. One example is the cover organised by tour operator Inghams. It pays compensation of £30 a day if all lifts are closed for any reason - provided it is not possible to transport you to alternative slopes. With admirable precision, it says baby drag lifts or those used to carry non-skiers around resorts do not count.
It would also be wise to check whether you are covered for fringe activities, such as racing around on a snowmobile.
For those intent on heading off piste, things become trickier. How do you define a piste? Must you stay strictly on groomed snow - or is it safe to take a few turns in the powder alongside? Insurers apply what they call the "test of reasonableness". Thus, if a boarder with a policy excluding off-piste skiing was injured on a jump within sight of a prepared run, it might pay out. But if the same customer strayed deep into unpatrolled territory, it probably would not.
For regular travellers and families, an annual policy, which covers trips other than winter sports holidays, can be economic. American Express Centurion, for example, covers your children on a school trip. But never renew such policies without checking for changes. Some years ago I dis covered that off-piste skiing had been excluded from mine. The company insisted it had informed policy holders but I could not recall receiving any communication.
Insurers often offer two levels of cover with different premiums. Sometimes it is worth paying the extra. Sometimes it is not. Whether you need more than £2m worth of medical cover, for example, is debatable. Who knows of a claim for a higher amount?
One example of souped-up cover that would be worth paying for is Hamilton Barr's Excel. At £33.77 for up to 10 days in Europe or £55.86 worldwide it costs only £3.47 or £8.33 more than the firm's respective standard policies. But it pays out up to £800 if your ski equipment is lost, damaged or stolen - double the amount covered by the cheaper policy.
If you are stuck in hospital as the result of an accident, it will pay £30 a day "inconvenience" cover, for expenses such as taxis to get friends to your bedside - double the standard figure. And it covers up to £600 worth of physiotherapy when you get home - which is also not included under the cheaper deal.
