Adventure Seekers Need a Travel Insurance Safety Net – Forbes Advisor

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Hello Insurance Sleuth,

I am an adrenaline junkie who loves adventure sports. I enjoy bungee jumping, scuba diving, mountain biking; You name it. I’m planning a heli-skiing trip in British Columbia, but a friend told me that my health insurance doesn’t cover me outside of the US. Can I get travel health insurance for my ski trip?

—Alpine Ace

Dear Alp As,

Your friend is right; When you travel abroad, U.S. health insurance plans sometimes have limited or no coverage. Be sure to check with your health insurer to verify what coverage you have outside the country.

Travel health insurance It covers emergency medical expenses while traveling, but there’s often a big catch: High-risk, adventurous activities like ATV riding, mountain climbing, and heli-skiing are often not covered.

This means that if you get injured while launching yourself out of the helicopter, you’ll likely incur expensive emergency medical bills. But I definitely don’t want to stop you from having a good time. I spoke to several travel insurance experts to find some practical solutions.

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Your Adventure Begins in the Fine Print

“Vacationers looking to add adventure to their trip need to do some research to make sure their activity agenda is met,” he says Angela Bordenspokesman Seven Corners. Borden adds that the easiest way to do this is to review the travel insurance policy, which provides a definition for extreme or adventurous activities.

“Write down all the possible activities you plan to do during your holiday and choose a plan that will cover them all,” says spokesperson Terra Baykal. World Nomads. “If you don’t see your specific activity listed, call the travel insurance company and ask for clarification on whether it’s covered.”

Beware of general phrases like “extreme sports” Jason SchreierCEO of Travel and Event Insurance Division Shield General. Since this can be open to interpretation, Schreier recommends listing each activity you’re considering and emailing the travel insurance company to ask about them. This way, you will have a written response that you can refer to if you need to make a travel insurance claim.

Adventure Is Very Subjective

While most travelers consider hang gliding and free soloing to be high-risk activities, how about hiking on the moderate side? Be sure to double-check this policy before lacing up your boots. We looked at policies that didn’t cover relatively tame activities like camping, cross-country running, hiking, trekking, and even ballet.

“A plan might allow you to hike around rocks and swim in the ocean,” Baykal says, “but if you jump off rocks into the ocean, you may not be able to cover yourself, regardless of your altitude.”

If you’re competitive, you’d probably assume that attending a mixed martial arts tournament during a trip wouldn’t be covered. What about simple games like races and racquet sports? Double-check this policy before clearing space on your trophy shelf.

“Both amateur and professional competitions are excluded from most policies,” says Schreier. This includes non-contact sports like track and field, tennis and pickleball tournaments, he says.

And if you’re someone who just enjoys a few drinks while others are having fun, don’t think you’re off the hook. Sucking can also cause a hangover in travel insurance.

“Given that alcohol is a common component of many people’s travels and the rise in cannabis tourism, travelers should keep in mind that any activities they participate in while over the legal limit and that result in a medical claim will be excluded,” Schreier says.

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Travel Insurance Can Be a Safety Net for Thrill Seekers

While many heart-pounding activities may be off the table with some travel insurance policies, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a great policy for your next trip. You can find plans that cover a range of adventurous activities. For example, World Nomads covers more than 250 activities, including skydiving, bull running, skateboarding, ziplining, and even air guitar.

The key to finding best travel insurance The plan is to understand exactly what is included and what is excluded. If you are unsure, get clarification from the travel insurance company. If your activity is not covered, purchasing the policy anyway could be a financially devastating choice if you are harmed. Talk about a big buzz.