Safe Descents provides ski and snowboard evacuation insurance in an uncomplicated manner and at very attractive prices. I just purchased coverage for the entire season for $56.99.
For that amount, Safe Descents covers any ambulance or air evacuation services if I’m injured in-bounds at any ski resort in the United States. That’s in addition to other coverage like sending a loved one to the hospital and/or getting me back home following my hospital stay. These and other benefits have a maximum of $25,000. The company’s policies are underwritten by the global Starr Indemnity and Liability Company. Safe Descents recently started to advertise with SeniorsSkiing.com.
Before making my purchase, I googled “snow skier’s insurance” and clicked on a few of the options that popped up. Without getting too far into the details, what I found was confusing, exclusionary, and expensive. The websites were complicated. In one case, after filling in all the details, the site informed me that it doesn’t insure people 70 and older. In another case, insurance for a one-week ski trip in the US was quoted at $319. Granted, these appear to be general travel insurance plans tweaked to include a skier’s emergency evacuation needs, but it still was pricey.
The Safe Descents coverage is strictly for ski and snowboard evacuation insurance. The company’s website is in plain
language and easy to read. (Click on the adjacent Safe Descents ad to reach the website. It rotates with the Ski Mojo ad.) The online enrollment process is simple and to the point. At present, two products are offered: The one I purchased is for the entire season and costs $56.99. The other offering is for a day of skiing/boarding and costs $4.75.
Last year, at Copper Mountain, I sat in the base lodge, while members of the ski patrol, a fireman and a policeman tried to convince a man who had hurt himself to use the waiting ambulance to go to the hospital. He refused because his insurance would not cover the cost. He planned to wait to see if his injury got worse and if it did, drive there himself.
I know that some healthcare plans provide a portion or all of necessary ambulance and/or air evacuation services. But those services add-up quickly. The coverage offered by Safe Descents will cover the difference. A season’s coverage for $56.99 — at Vail or Aspen, the cost of a few burgers and beers — simply makes sense. It’s good value for peace-of-mind.
This is a great service. Sadly, it is not yet available in my state. Readers should be aware that eligibility is not country-wide
In fact, there are only 18 states where this insurance is available! While my home state of Idaho is in the program, I generally ski more in WY, MT, and neither of those states is in the program.
Policy availablility is based on the state where you live, not where you ski. You can purchase it in Idaho where you live and benefit it wherever you ski in the US.
Hello Lennia,
Idaho is now one of the states we can sell our product, up to 46 states now!
You are covered for all the ski resorts in the contiguous United States.
Hpe you have a great winter!
Hello Bill, Safe Descents is now available in 46 states! Please take a look and most likely we can help you out now! http://www.safedescents.com
We carry travel insurance that covers all travel over 100 miles from home anywhere in the world. It’s through American Express. For my wife and I it’s $15.50 a month. Closer to home our regular medical insurance and medicare covers. We travel enough to justify it.
Does this cover strictly injury at ski resorts or skiing? I have insurance through DAN (Divers Alert Network) since I scuba as well but it covers evac from anywhere on earth for any injury (along with time in a chamber which can be breathtakingly expensive). The prices do vary according to how much coverage you want.