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Ski and snowboarding insurance

Our favourite thing about winter is winter sports

While they’re exhilarating, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling are highly unpredictable sports, which is why you should consider adding our Snow Sports Boost to your Explorer Plan.

Snow sports covered when Snow Sports Boost added at an additional cost to the base policy.
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Here are some coverage highlights for skiing and snowboarding travel insurance

Keen to zig-zag all over Japan's fluffy peaks, Aotearoa New Zealand's ski fields or, closer to home, Perisher Blue? Accidents do happen, though, and snow sports coverage can help with injuries or losses gained from skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling that regular policies will not provide. Here are some benefits you get when you add the Snow Sports Boost to your Explorer Plan (at an additional cost).

Skiing and snowboarding

We provide coverage for skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing on- and off-piste, provided you are not going against local advice or warnings.

Heli-skiing and -boarding

We provide coverage for heli-skiing and heli-boarding, provided you are on a guided tour with a licensed tour operator.

Medical costs snow sports

We can help take the sting off any medical bills you rack up whilst skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling, as well as cross-country skiing, if your claim is approved.

*Only applies to Overseas Explorer Plan

Keep scrolling down to see the full coverage

There’s a lot of detail to unpack in the above, so refer to and read the Combined FSG/PDS for more information. To learn about the Target Market for this product, you can read our TMD.

Helpful Tip:
You can toggle-on our Snow Sports Boost in real time – and the cover will start as soon as you pay.
Remember:

Our Snow Sports Boost only includes medical coverage when added to our Overseas Explorer Plan. When travelling in Australia, there is no medical cover available on our policies.

How Freely works

Start with our Explorer Plan

We've made buying travel insurance easier by bundling medical, trip and belongings cover in our single Explorer Plan. Get a quote and buy your policy in minutes.

Add Trip Extras

If you need additional coverage for your trip or favourite gadgets, you can build upon the Explorer Plan by adding any of our Trip Extras.

Turn on Daily Boosts

Last-minute ski trip? Need a rental vehicle or motorcycle for the day? Embrace spontaneity and toggle on additional activity coverage for the days you need it.

The flexible travel insurance app that lets you explore Freely!

What's covered?

We've simplified travel insurance with our bundled Explorer Plan that you can build upon with extra coverage. This way, you only pay for the coverage you need on the days you actually need it.

Cover for medical

We provide coverage for overseas medical expenses, including hospital expenses for approvable claims. If things go really wrong, we can help with emergency repatriation or evacuation to bring you home.

Only applies to Overseas Explorer Plan

Cover for your trip

If you need to amend, delay or cancel your trip, we can help smooth out bumps in your travel plans. You can even increase your cancellation coverage in increments of $1,000 by paying additional premiums.

Cover for your gear

We offer coverage to help fund the replacement or reimbursement
of delayed, lost, stolen or damaged luggage. You can also increase the single-item limit for portable electronic gadgets, and ramp up your coverage for other specified items you won't travel without.

Overseas
Domestic
Overseas Explorer Plan

When things go wrong overseas, travel insurance can be the unexpected hero of your trip. Freely's Overseas Explorer Plan offers coverage for medical and dental, emergency evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation and amendment, and lost and delayed luggage. Planning to ski in Japan? Want to rent a car in New Zealand? You can add extra coverage for activities before you go – or while you’re away!

Cover for your health

Accidental death$10,000

If you suffer an injury caused solely and directly by violent, accidental, visible and external means (as opposed to being caused by sickness or disease) that results in your death, we will pay your estate the amount (provided your death occurs within one year of the accident).

Disability$10,000

If you suffer an injury caused solely and directly by violent, accidental, visible and external means (as opposed to being caused by sickness or disease) that results in your permanent total loss of sight in one or both eyes or the loss of use of one or more limbs, we will pay you the amount shown in the Plan purchased (provided the loss occurs within one year of the accident).

Cover for medical

Overseas medical expenses$Unlimited~

If you become sick or injured while on your trip, we may provide cover for unexpected medical and hospital expenses.

Overseas emergency dental$Unlimited~

If you need to pay for unexpected dental treatment during your trip, we may provide cover for emergency overseas dental expenses.

Overseas emergency repatriation$Unlimited~

If you become sick or injured while on your trip and need emergency repatriation, we may provide cover for that.

Overseas emergency evacuation$Unlimited~

If you become sick or injured while on your trip and need emergency evacuation, we may provide cover for that.

Accidental death$25,000

If you suffer an injury caused solely and directly by violent, accidental, visible and external means (as opposed to being caused by sickness or disease) that results in your death, if approved, we will pay your estate the amount (provided your death occurs within one year of the accident).

Disability$25,000

If you suffer an injury caused solely and directly by violent, accidental, visible and external means (as opposed to being caused by sickness or disease) that results in your permanent total loss of sight in one or both eyes or the loss of use of one or more limbs, if approved, we will pay you the amount shown in the Plan purchased (provided the loss occurs within one year of the accident).

Cover for your trip

Trip cancellation and amendment$5,000

If you need to unexpectedly amend or cancel your trip for a covered reason, we can reimburse you for the costs of your prepaid, non-refundable travel arrangements.

Additional expensesLimits apply

If you encounter unexpected accommodation and/or transport costs during your travels because of a covered event, we may provide cover for the additional expenses you incur.

Travel delay expenses$2,000

If your pre-booked, prepaid transport is temporarily delayed during the journey for at least 6 hours due to an unforeseeable circumstance outside your control (including a cyber incident), we may provide cover for the related expenses you incur up to $2,000.

Resumption of journey$2,000

If you need to return to Australia while you're on your trip because of the sudden serious injury, sickness, disease, or death of your relative or business partner, we may provide cover for the cost of resuming the journey up to $2,000.

Special events$2,000

If, due to an unforeseeable circumstance outside your control, your journey would otherwise be delayed – resulting in you being unable to arrive in time to attend a wedding, funeral, 25th or 50th wedding anniversary, or a prepaid conference, music festival or sporting event that cannot be delayed due to your late arrival – we may pay for the reasonable additional cost of using alternative public transport to arrive at your destination on time.

Personal liability$3,000,000

If you become unintentionally legally liable to pay compensation for damage caused to someone, we may provide coverage of up to $3,000,000. Limits, sub-limits, conditions and exclusions apply.

Cover for your stuff

Lost, stolen or damaged luggage$10,000

If your luggage or travel documents are lost, stolen, or damaged on your trip, we can reimburse you for your items or for repairing your items. The limit per item is $750.

Luggage delay$1,000

If your luggage is delayed by a transport provider for more than 12 hours during your trip, we can reimburse you for the costs of several personal items purchased.

Passport and travel documents$1,000

We may pay you for the cost of replacing travel documents and credit cards lost or stolen on the journey. We may also pay for your legal liability arising from their illegal use. You must, however, comply with all the conditions of the issue of the document prior to and after the loss or theft.

Lost or stolen money$500

If your cash, bank or currency notes, postal or money orders are accidentally lost or stolen on your trip, we can reimburse you for the cost of the loss.

Domestic Explorer

It's easy to assume that travel insurance is only necessary for overseas holidays – but travelling domestically within Australia's borders carries many of the same risks! Freely offers coverage for all domestic travel: from the bustling hubs of Sydney and Melbourne to more regional, nature-based destinations such as Tasmania and the Gold Coast.

Cover for medical

Accidental death$10,000

If you suffer an injury caused solely and directly by violent, accidental, visible and external means (as opposed to being caused by sickness or disease) that results in your death, we will pay your estate the amount (provided your death occurs within one year of the accident).

Disability$10,000

If you suffer an injury caused solely and directly by violent, accidental, visible and external means (as opposed to being caused by sickness or disease) that results in your permanent total loss of sight in one or both eyes or the loss of use of one or more limbs, we will pay you the amount shown in the Plan purchased (provided the loss occurs within one year of the accident).

Cover for your trip

Trip cancellation and amendment$5,000

If you need to unexpectedly amend or cancel your trip for a covered reason, we can reimburse you for the costs of your prepaid, non-refundable travel arrangements.

Additional expenses$10,000

If you encounter unexpected accommodation and/or transport costs during your travels because of a covered event, we can provide cover for the additional expenses you incur.

Travel delay expenses$2,000

If your pre-booked, prepaid transport is temporarily delayed during the journey for at least 6 hours due to an unforeseeable circumstance outside your control (including a cyber incident), we can provide cover for the related expenses you incur up to $2,000.

Resumption of journey$2,000

If you need to return to Australia while you're on your trip because of the sudden serious injury, sickness, disease, or death of your relative or business partner, we can provide cover for the cost of resuming the journey up to $2,000.

Special events$2,000

If, due to an unforseeable circumstance outside your control, your journey would otherwise be delayed – resulting in you being unable to arrive in time to attend a wedding, funeral, 25th or 50th wedding anniversary, or a prepaid conference, music festival or sporting event that cannot be delayed due to your late arrival – we will pay for the reasonable additional cost of using alternative public transport to arrive at your destination on time.

Personal liability$200,000

If you become unintentionally legally liable to pay compensation for damage caused to someone else's property or for the injury or death of someone, we may provide coverage of up to $200,000.

Cover for your stuff

Lost, stolen or damaged luggage$10,000

If your luggage or travel documents are lost, stolen, or damaged on your trip, we can reimburse you for the cost of replacing or repairing your items. The limit per item is $750.

Luggage delay$1,000

If your luggage is delayed by a transport provider for more than 12 hours during your trip, we can reimburse you for the costs of several personal items purchased.

Lost or stolen money$500

If your cash, bank or currency notes, postal or money orders are accidentally lost or stolen on your trip, we can reimburse you for the cost of the loss.

There’s a lot of detail to unpack in the above, so refer to and read the Combined FSG/PDS for more information. To learn about the Target Market for this product, you can read our TMD.~ Medical and dental cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness or injury.

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Need extra coverage for your trip?

Build on your Explorer Plan by adding Trip Extras to get greater protection for your personal belongings, and enhanced delay and cancellation coverage. You can also toggle on Daily Boosts to get coverage for certain activities, from motorbike riding to adventure sports – and toggle them off when your plans change!

Get flexible travel insurance and protection in minutes with Freely!

Do I need travel insurance for skiing and snowboarding?

Regardless of how experienced you are, snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding carry a range of risks. If the worst happens and you need medical assistance up the mountain, travel insurance can help get you to safety and may lend a hand when it comes to covering the cost of treatment.

Freely’s Explorer Plan doesn’t automatically cover snow activities, so if you’re planning to ski, snowboard or snowmobile on your next adventure, you need to add our Snow Sports Boost (at an additional cost to the base policy). Best of all, it can be toggled on in real time – even while you’re away! That means you can embrace last-minute snow trips and only pay for extra cover on the days you actually need it.

Tips for choosing ski and snowboard insurance for overseas

Regardless of which provider you choose, the majority of travel insurance policies do not automatically cover snow sports. Freely is no exception: our Explorer Plan alone does not cover skiing or snowboarding – as these high-risk activities attract a higher premium.

If you plan on doing snow sports on your next overseas holiday, it’s a good idea to consider taking out travel insurance with specific snow sports coverage (such as our Snow Sports Boost) on top of your baseline policy to make sure you have coverage when you’re on the mountain. Not doing so can be risky and could leave you having to foot a hefty medical bill if you get injured.

You can add our Snow Sports Boost to your Explorer Plan before your trip or in-real-time while you’re away. Simply use the Freely app to toggle it on and pay for the days you need it.

Staying safe in the snow

There are many steps you can take to reduce the risks associated with snow sports like skiing and snowboarding. Beginners are strongly encouraged to get a lesson to ensure they are learning correct techniques and don’t present a danger to themselves or anyone else on the mountain. Helmets and wristguards are a good safeguard against injuries, especially when you are learning, going off-piste or trying your luck in a terrain park. 

It’s a good idea to always ski or snowboard in pairs, as that way you’ll have a buddy if you get lost or hurt yourself. As tempting as it is to soundtrack your ride, wearing headphones can seriously impair your ability to hear other riders, announcements and the world around you. If you must have music, leave at least one ear free. Lastly, although lots of ski resorts serve alcohol in the daytime, save the booze for afterwards. It’s called après-ski for a reason!

Top tips for skiing and snowboarding

Here are some helpful tips to consider ...

1

If you’re new to snow sports, get an in-person lesson

This will ensure you learn how to stop properly, which keeps you and other riders safe. It will also prevent you from accidentally adopting incorrect techniques and bad habits, which increase the risk of injury and strain and can be very tricky to unlearn later down the track.

2

Wear protective gear when you’re learning, riding in the ski fields and going off-piste

Broken wrists are a common injury for beginner snowboarders, so put on a pair of wrist guards for at least the first few weeks of learning. If you’re riding in the terrain park or going off-piste, your risk of collision and injury is much greater simply because there are more obstacles. Given that snowboarders and skiers can clock speeds of roughly 16-32km an hour, wearing a helmet could save your life.

3

Be extra careful in the afternoon

Late afternoon is the time when most injuries tend to happen. Not only are riders starting to get tired, but unless there’s been a fresh dump of powder, the snow can get icy and slushy from people shredding it all day: prime conditions for accidents.

Why Freely?

Only pay for the extra coverage you need on the days you actually need it.

Update your policy on your trip so you can embrace travel spontaneity.

Get 24/7 support in-app with access to our medical and emergency specialists.

Giving back to people, places and the planet

Still got questions?

Does Freely’s Snow Sports Boost cover me for skiing and snowboarding?
Will I be covered for heli-skiing or heli-boarding?
Will I be covered for snowmobiling?
Will I be covered for off-piste skiing and snowboarding?
I have my own skiing and/or snowboarding equipment – will it be covered?

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