(Netherlands) Winter Sports Insurance Knowledge Sharing

If you are in the Netherlands and plan to go skiing in the winter, then winter sports insurance is an essential part of your trip.

If you are unsure how to buy insurance, you can refer to this article to make your own selection.

(Note: This article does not recommend any insurance products sold by any company; it is for knowledge sharing purposes only. Please read the terms and conditions of the insurance policy before purchasing it yourself.)

A special reminder: as our friends in the Netherlands know, the country has mandatory national health insurance, but this insurance does not cover the risks associated with skiing. Therefore, please remember to purchase winter sports insurance before leaving the Netherlands for skiing!

After accumulating experience over time, DaBai learned that Dutch skiers typically purchase winter sports insurance through the following channels:

1. Purchase insurance through your own bank or your own National Health Insurance Company.

2. Purchase insurance through the travel company where you book your accommodation.

3. Choose an independent insurance company to purchase insurance through Google or a friend's recommendation.

4. When purchasing ski passes, buy insurance from the ski resort's partner insurance.

In today's article, we'll mainly look at a commonly used method: purchasing insurance through your own bank or your national health insurance company.

Let's take ING Bank as an example to look at its winter sports insurance:

• ING's insurance system offers two main types of insurance: "Annual Travel Insurance" and "Single Trip / Short-Term Travel Insurance".

• Both types of travel insurance can be supplemented with "Winter Sports cover"—meaning that the default insurance may not cover winter sports risks, and if you want to ski or do similar activities, you will need to add this coverage.

• The choice between these two insurance policies depends on your needs. If you already have annual travel insurance, then adding Wintersport is sufficient. If you don't and only have a one-time need, then you can buy single-trip travel insurance. The costs are actually quite similar, but one is for the whole year, and the other is for a single trip. Which one would you choose?

So what does this winter sports insurance cover?

You can find the explanation on the insurance page:

• Medical Expenses : In the event of an accident on the ski slopes that requires medical care or hospitalization, medical expenses will be reimbursed. (Both the "Medical Expenses and Accidents" and "Winter Sports" modules must be purchased.)

• Damage to items : Compensation is available for damaged or lost ski equipment. Equipment is insured together with other baggage for the selected coverage amount (€1,500 / €2,500 / €5,000). (Both the "Baggage" and "Winter Sports" modules must be purchased.)

• Ski passes and lesson fees : If the trip is terminated early due to an insured event, you will be compensated for the unused ski passes and ski lesson fees; if the ski passes are lost or the rented equipment cannot be used, you can also be reimbursed.

• Rescue assistance : If you need to be transferred off the ski slope, sent to a hospital, or repatriated, we will provide corresponding rescue and assistance services.

This simultaneous insurance module requires special attention!!

Many people think that adding Wintersport to their travel insurance is enough, but if you carefully read the terms and conditions, you need to specifically check whether medical expenses are included when purchasing Wintersport. This is because the system might automatically assign options that don't include it, meaning your most needed medical expenses might not be reimbursed.

DaBai and his friends did some research and found that not everyone who purchased Wintersport insurance is covered by the medical module. So everyone should check their insurance coverage.

DaBai tried purchasing single-trip travel insurance through ING, and it automatically added medical and luggage coverage for him.

What activities are covered by winter sports insurance?

The following is what DaBai found in ing's insurance terms.

• "Onder wintersport verstaan we alpineskiën, skibobben, toerskiën, monoskiën, snowboarden, swingbo, telemarken, surfskiën en gletsjerskiën."

Winter sports include alpine skiing, skibobbing, ski touring, monoskiing, snowboarding, swingbo, telemark skiing, surf skiing, and glacier skiing.

Winter sports include: alpine skiing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowboarding, swingbo, Telemark, surfing, and glacier skiing.

• Je bent alleen verzekerd als je deze sporten binnen gemarkeerde pistes uitoefent.

You are only insured if you practice these sports within marked pistes .

• Off-piste skiën (onder begeleiding) is wel verzekerd met de Module Bijzondere Sporten.

Off- piste skiing (with guidance) is insured only when the Special Sports module is purchased.

• Let op! Voor gevaarlijke sporten ben je nooit verzekerd

Note: Dangerous sports are never insured.

It's particularly important to note that if you plan to ski off-piste, you'll need to purchase a special sports module and have a guide to receive compensation in case of an accident. Standard wintersport insurance does not cover accidents in off-piste skiing.

What does the medical module include?

DaBai has compiled a summary based on the terms and conditions of ING insurance. In general, this module is an add-on to your normal national health insurance. If your health insurance does not cover certain expenses, then this medical module provides additional protection.

However, the third item in the table is easily overlooked. For example, if you purchased a single-trip (10-day) winter sports travel insurance policy, and during this trip you are injured and unable to continue your trip, receive basic medical treatment in another country, and then return to the Netherlands for further treatment, this period of follow-up treatment is no longer covered by your 10-day insurance policy. In this case, the medical module will only reimburse you a maximum of €1250 for the follow-up treatment costs.

Once you return to the Netherlands, your Dutch national health insurance will be the primary payer. Therefore, you need to confirm the various reimbursement amounts and possibilities with your insurance company when choosing a treatment method and doctor. Don't assume that having insurance means you don't have to pay any costs yourself.

Item	Covered Expenses	Conditions / Note
General Medical Costs	Doctors' fees, hospital admission and surgery, treatments/examinations/bandages/medications, first prostheses/orthoses, elbow or armpit crutches, transport to/from treatment location	- Prescribed by a doctor - Common practice among doctors in the Netherlands - Conventional medicine only (alternative medicine excluded) Not unnecessarily expensive
Claim Process	Costs must first be submitted to your Dutch health insurer; any portion not covered can be claimed under this module	- Includes costs below your deductible or above the insurance reimbursement limit
Post-trip / Post-policy Costs	Still reimbursed if treatment is needed due to accident or illness	- Must be within 1 year of accident or illness - Maximum €1,250

What does the assistance/Hulpverlening module include?

• Illness or accident during travel

Necessary additional transportation and accommodation costs, including:

• The affected insured and their companions (those who provide care due to medical needs), including ambulance or medical flight transportation when necessary.

  • Note: Medical advisors determine the necessity of medical care based on the Alarm Center's assessment, referencing Dutch medical standards.

• Other insured individuals in the same industry, maximum 10 days.

• If traveling alone, a maximum of two people from the Netherlands are allowed. If visitors are from outside the Netherlands, the cost will be calculated as if they were traveling from the Netherlands.

This also includes coverage for deaths during travel; you can refer to the insurance policy for details.

This concludes what I wanted to share about winter sports insurance. Although I only used ING Bank's insurance terms as an example, I believe you can use the above ideas to check whether your insurance policy includes the coverage you need.

In short, while winter sports are full of fun, they also come with certain risks. In the Netherlands, national health insurance does not cover accidents during winter sports such as skiing, so purchasing suitable winter sports insurance is crucial . When purchasing insurance, be sure to carefully read the terms and conditions to confirm whether it includes modules for medical expenses, lost baggage, rescue assistance, and special sports (such as off-piste skiing). Only in this way can you obtain timely protection in the event of an accident, making your skiing trip both safe and enjoyable. Remember, advance planning and adequate insurance are the first steps to safe travel.