Notify it and have it accepted
- Notify us before you leave
- Surcharge or separate module
- Also for a single day of heli-skiing
Off-piste · avalanche risk · recovery costs
Heliskiing and your insurance
Insurers treat heli-skiing as a risk sport and it is usually excluded on ordinary travel and winter sports cover.
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Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Heliskiën en uw verzekering.
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- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
Heli-skiing is off-piste skiing in unmanaged terrain, with a helicopter as the lift. Insurers place that in the highest risk category: on travel insurance and on the winter sports module it is usually excluded, and often on the accident cover as well.
Cover is sometimes possible, if the sport is report before you leave and the insurer accepts it — usually only when accompanied by a recognised guide. Without a declaration you are on your own in the event of an avalanche or a rescue operation.
What is covered with heli-skiing?
Three things determine your cover: the declaration in advance, the supervision and the emergency assistance centre.
Guide and equipment
Acceptance often depends on supervision and safety equipment.
- A recognised guide or operator
- Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe
- Do not enter closed areas
Recovery and repatriation
Call the emergency assistance centre before you incur any costs.
- Arranging a guarantee
- Helicopter recovery is expensive
- Keep all receipts and reports
What is covered
| Situation | Standard | With extension |
|---|---|---|
| Medical expenses after an accident | No | Yes |
| Search, rescue and recovery costs | No | Yes |
| Permanent disability after an avalanche | No | Provided that |
| Liability towards third parties | Provided that | Yes |
| Skiing in a closed area or an area under warning | No | No |
| Taking part in competition | No | Provided that |
What is actually covered is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) that you receive in advance.
Where things go wrong in practice
Two points that determine whether your policy pays after an accident.
Mountain sports, air sports and competitions are the standard exclusions
Almost every travel and accident policy excludes three categories: mountain sports off the beaten track, air sports and speed contests. Heli-skiing touches the first two at once. Even one-off participation falls under that exclusion.
Recklessness undermines even cover that has been accepted
If the sport is covered, then Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code apply: intent and recklessness are not covered. Skiing in a closed area, during an avalanche warning or under the influence of alcohol is treated in that way. Report an accident immediately (Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code).
What does your premium depend on?
- Risk class of the sport — heli-skiing is in the highest
- Recreational or in competition — competitions are more expensive
- Destination — the Alps, North America or further afield
- Duration of the trip — a single trip or the whole season
- Sums insured — above all for rescue costs and disability
- Experience and supervision — a guide or your own group
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, risk and wishes.
- We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
- You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
- We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often about this.
Does heli-skiing fall under ordinary winter sports cover?
Usually not. The winter sports module covers skiing and snowboarding on the piste. Heli-skiing is off-piste in unmanaged terrain and appears in the exclusions with most insurers, together with freeriding without a guide. Ask for written confirmation before departure if you want it included.
What happens if I do not report it?
Then there is no cover for the consequences of that sport, not even for medical expenses or a rescue operation. With heli-skiing it soon involves a helicopter recovery in remote terrain; those costs are then entirely at your own expense.
Does a guide help with acceptance?
Often yes. Insurers that include this sport usually make it a condition that you go with a recognised operator or mountain guide and carry the usual avalanche equipment. Going off-piste on your own initiative remains excluded even then. Have that condition recorded in writing in advance.
Who do I call if something happens?
Your insurer's emergency assistance centre, before you incur any costs. They arrange the guarantee of payment for the hospital, the recovery and, where necessary, the repatriation. Keep the mountain rescue report and all invoices; without those documents a claim is hard to support.
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Similar pages
Going heli-skiing?
Have it recorded before departure what cover you have; we find out which insurer accepts this sport.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
Claim on the road? Emergency line 06 - 55 20 40 72.
About our service
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
This page was written and checked by an adviser at Finass Verzekert. Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.