After months of organization for your stay in the mountains, the costs of accommodation, ski lessons, equipment, ski pass. And if on the day, everything did not go as planned...
What is the purpose of the snow square insurance in case of an accident on the slopes?
When you buy your ski pass at the ski lifts, the hostess always asks you the question: "and with your ski pass, will you take the insurance?
This extension is essential, because if you don't already have specific insurance (French Alpine Club, life accident guarantee, certain health contracts, etc.), you risk incurring many expenses in the event of a problem. Since the 1985 mountain law, the communes are in charge of rescue on the ski area.
In practice, this rescue service is often delegated to the piste service. When you are skiing with a ski instructor, it is he who gives the alert to the ski patrol service who intervenes and takes measures according to the situation:
repatriation by boat, helicopter, contact with the SAMU or
the doctors of the station...
Thus, each intervention is chirped according to the location of the accident
(a rescue from the snow front in Courchevel 1850 will have a lower cost than another from the top of the Saulire at 2737m for example), but also the nature of the intervention. And since a law clarification of 2002, the rescue service on the slopes is entitled to ask the victims for a contribution to the costs. Knowing that a repatriation by helicopter can very quickly make the costs rise above the 1,500 euro mark, so it is better to be prepared. Once you have arrived at the doctor's, your health insurance company will take over the medical expenses.
For example, for a broken knee, you will be reimbursed for X-rays, plaster casts, crutches, etc. in part or in full, depending on the coverage of your contract.
In the event of an accident that requires you to be transported home, for example due to an inability to drive, your homeowner's insurance policy may be able to help you cover the cost of medical transportation.
HOW MUCH CAN A RESCUE COST?
Here are some average costs for an accident in a ski resort.
1776€ EVACUATION BY HELICOPTER
367€ RESCUE FEES ON THE SLOPES
184€ TRANSPORT BY AMBULANCE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOPES TO THE MEDICAL OFFICE
If the accident is off-piste ?
Contrary to the ski area, which is the responsibility of the municipality or its delegate, an off-piste accident falls under the public domain. That is to say that it is public organizations which will intervene:
CRS de Montagne, team of specialized firemen or PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne).
The costs incurred are therefore paid by the taxpayer via the SDIS (Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Sécurité). In any case, if the intervention is "free" (indirectly it is our taxes that pay), the medical expenses or breakage of equipment remain entirely at your charge. Do not venture off-piste without a mountain professional. Even if you think there is no risk.
Theft and breakage of my ski equipment, what are the guarantees ?
None with Carré Neige.
In some cases, credit cards can cover this kind of unforeseen event, on the condition that you have bought/rented the equipment with it! The guarantees depend on your contract, and the ceilings are very variable.
Check with your banker before your trip to see how much you are covered.
The advantage is that, if you pay for your purchases for the whole family with one card, the guarantee can be extended to all the equipment. Be careful, however, to check your exclusions of coverage, and depending on the level of the card, the limits of coverage will not be the same.
CARRÉ NEIGE, 100% guarantees and 30 years of experience:
This insurance is used for skiing on marked trails, but also covers sledding accidents, and even off-piste accidents as long as the itinerary is accessible from the ski lifts. If you subscribe to the Carré Neige Intégral, in case of cancellation of your stay, illness during your vacation, or injury, you are guaranteed to be reimbursed for your unused ski passes and/or lessons.
