ASTUDY by travel insurance giants Home and Overseas has revealed the cost of treating skiing injuries is rising sharply in European and US resorts.
The research found costs had risen by nearly 50% since 1995 and urged agents to ensure customers were properly insured before setting off to the pistes. The report revealed simple treatment for a sprained ankle would cost ú100 in the Alps, but ú500 in the US. At the top end, Home and Overseas found helicopter rescue costs from ú2,500 in France and Italy to ú4,000 in the US.
Home and Overseas also found injured skiers were also being given wrong advice and forced to pay out unreasonable amounts for unnecessary treatment. The insurer said traditional cover under the European Union’s E111 programme was mostly unavailable in resorts due to the lack of a National Health Service-style service.