Wow, the price difference from base cover, to including snowsports, to including off piste and BC, is ridiculous! For me (35yo) on a 3 week return trip it goes (for the top level of cover and 2 weeks snow cover) $81.18, to $239.18, to $555.18! That's a pretty substantial increase in my eyes.
So when are where is she going for the girls trip? I leave in 12 days! She welcome to come to Niseko with me (not that we have meet! )
Found the Flight Centre PDS, tiny little link at the bottom of the page https://insurance.flightcentre.com.au/ http://policy.poweredbycovermore.com/partners/fcau/files/documents/wl/PDS_FYP_FYE.pdf $404 for 10 days with snowsports+ for USA Cant see anything on search and rescue
What about cover-more with winter sports platinum? it includes gates and unguided BC provided you are not alone. https://www.covermore.com.au/sites/default/files/winter_sports_pds_cms.pdf nothing on search and rescue
ive seen this pds before. absolutely no idea how to get a quote for it and their website doesn't let you actually buy it. its either not available option (if you select japan) or errors (if you select usa).
I’m trying to work out when it becomes acceptable to go without a guide - some of them have less bc training than I have (not the ones I use mind you)... (just did another full day of avy training and group and individual practice searches with single and multiple burials today!)
OK i think i am going to go with: CBA with snow sports + which allows for: - heli-skiing/boarding if you are on a guided tour with a licensed tour operator - skiing or snowboarding outside piste boundaries, provided you are not going against local advice or warning A little concerned that it is "outside piste boundaries" which could be interpreted as still within the resort, although the bit about local advice and warning would seem to suggest it is outside the resort, seems sufficient for gates. Would prefer if the word "backcountry" was used. OR Covermore with snow sports platinum - Gate Skiing / Boarding - Unguided Backcountry Skiing (not overnight and no extreme skiing) - Cover applies outside the resort boundary if you are not alone definition of "extreme skiing"? . No "extreme skiing" disclaimer for gate skiing. Also joining the Alpine Club Melbourne to cover search and rescue Sorry for the multiple threads!
Pini, that CBA one is good! Jackson has gates, if the gate is open you are not going against local advise. But to be sure, check avi danger every day.
After a long email exchange i can confirm we are still on with AAMI with the current PDS: "Off-piste skiing is a covered activity under our AAMI Travel Insurance product as it's not listed as an excluded activity in the AAMI Travel Insurance PDS. This means cover would apply providing all other terms, limits and conditions are met." Probably not fare for me to post the email exchange as it got to a quit senior person but happy to share on private message if anyone is interested. They even offered me a discount and thanked me for uncovering a "knowledge gap".
Fantastic. Keen to see if that’s ok. If it gets to one of @Any , @Ozgirl or me, I’m sure it’ll be shared between the 3 of us Maybe with your “in” to the upper management you can educate them.
Update, Just tried to purchase again. no go. changed email no go. Currently on hold... Question - is my knee now a pre existing condition? I don't think so under their info tab...
Update... Paid for AAMI insurance over the phone. Her first question was "do you have a pre-exisitng injury. and i said 'i don't think so going of your help section" so i told her about my knee and she said "did you have a replacement or construction" I said no. She couldn't process from the Quote online, had to start a brand new one. She is not even sure why i couldn't do it online. I did not asked about backcountry. However she did tell me i needed to read the pds. I think i might have snorted... Anyway of the the thread of rage thread... for part 2 of this story.
Some good reading about Alpenverein Melbourne thanks to @Hermannator https://www.alpenverein.at/innsbruck-melbourne/mitgliedwerden/join-avm.php
im on aami this year also. probably be a good idea to have a copy. this sounds likely. i hope they dont, and keep covering it and realize that the risk of payout is so low that its a profitable product for them.
if they're considering restricting it, i wonder if we're able to get any influence to management in what they add; "off piste snow sports outside resort boundaries (slackcountry) and in the backcountry requires shovel, beacon, probe and helmet, and must not be undertaken against local advice and/or common sense." this would instantly remove 99% of the people going out gates already, so instant risk reduction, and im sure nobody who deserves to be out there would disagree with it either. perhaps even add "backcountry snow sports should be with a professional guide or someone with avalanche training (l4 ski instructor or ast or equivalent)" for further narrowness.
Or you know.... Look at Ozgirls claim and see that it was small fry compared to other claims. And gasp she was backcountry!
Hey have myself,partner and friend travelling on Aami coming the 24th so keen for a copy if you are willing to share If my friend injures themselves will update with story
I popped my knee in Japan 2 years ago while off-piste. AAMI paid for all Japan medical bills and a business class flight home.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-TJqFo7vZCHu2g4ZAWlXFta517Zm22CTmKvr4gHkdAA updated. still need to add covermore platinum, and insure4less's updates tho.
thanks @Any this has been super helpful. Oh and i got a definition of "extreme skiing" from Cover More: "Extreme skiing is performed on long, steep (typically from 45 to 60+ degrees, or grades of 100 to 170 percent) slopes in mountainous terrain."
Hey couldn't find it with a quick look anyone remember what the app was that someone mentioned earlier in this thread around gps location to allow for them to rescue you
Just emailed AAMI about their travel insurance and received the following response. Happy to confirm off-piste & on-piste skiing is covered under the AAMI Travel Insurance product as it's not listed as an excluded activity in the AAMI Travel Insurance PDS. This means cover would apply providing all other terms, limits and conditions are met.
Boom! Finally some sense (from AAMI). But given the recent discussion what made you feel it was even necessary to email them?
word for word copy paste of the updated details. the terms limits and conditions phrase scares me a little, but its not like they could ever say anything without including that anyway.
I couldn't find anything on the PDS about skiing let alone off-piste, and only a brief mention about skiing in an FAQ,. So, I thought it would be better to get confirmation from the source rather than getting info from Pini (he's already done enough and why not get AAMI to do their job).
I think the only exclusions to be mindful of are: loss or theft of or damage to property, or death, illness, or injury, if you fail to take reasonable care and precautions; professional sport (including training for professional sport), hunting, racing of any kind (other than on foot), football of any kind, flying except as a passenger in a scheduled commercial power-driven aircraft, any other aerial activity, rodeo riding, running with the bulls, sailing, mountain or rock climbing using ropes or guides, abseiling, diving using breathing apparatus (if you do not hold an open water diving licence), or competitive snow and ice sports;
So where we stand right now.... *AAMI PDS has not changed in relation to skiing and snowboarding. *AAMI call centre staff were either uneducated or misled to be advising customers that backcountry activities would not be covered. As it would’ve been misrepresentation to exclude an activity that was not specifically identified. *Due care and caution has always been a thing in insurances which is why they can deny a slip and fall claim if you’re drunk. Check the Avi reports, gear up, go with friends who know what they’re doing, take in adequate knowledge (either your own or a guide) and you’re able to prove due care and caution. *PiniPowPow got through to the right person and used the right language (ombudsman) to get to the truth, and be told the “knowledge gap” (or deliberate misinformation as a more skeptical human might see it) was going to be addressed. *LaNeige has contacted them since and found that indeed the “knowledge gap” has been addressed and the correct information has been given. Any chance we can all stop contacting AAMI now and just keep an eye on the PDS in case they change it?
Just looking at the AAMI insurance. Do you need to select 'Snow sports' or is it just included in the standard travel insurance? I cannot see anywhere to select it. It seems way to cheep? $168 for 10 days? Thanks
Hi All This thread really helped me decide on travel Insurance. I wanted off Piste no guide and Heli. I went with Com Bank which is backed by Cover-More. Any's spreadsheet was gold - it is on page 6. I got the Essentials Pack and SNOW SPORTS + I rang to confirm the two items above would cover off piste and Heli. Can't take too many chances Combank Travel Insurance I leave in 4 hours, Switzerland, France, Austria, Canada and USA. All on snow - be back in 63 days.
Hey PiniPowPow. I'm looking at my travel insurance options at the moment for a trip to Noz and Hakuba. AAMI is looking like a very favourable choice for ski insurance and am thinking about purchasing it. Could I please grab a copy of that email chain too?
