Adventure Seekers Need A Travel Insurance Safety Net

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Hey, Insurance Sleuth,

I’m an adrenaline junkie who loves adventure sports. I enjoy bungee jumping, scuba diving, mountain biking—you name it. I’m planning a heli-skiing trip in British Columbia, but a friend told me that my health insurance won’t cover me outside of the U.S. Can I get travel medical coverage for my ski trip? 

—Alpine Ace

Dear Alpine Ace,

Your friend is right—U.S. health insurance plans sometimes have limited or no coverage when you’re traveling abroad. Make sure to check with your health insurer to confirm what, if any, coverage you have outside the country.

Travel medical insurance does pay for emergency medical expenses during a trip, but there’s often a major snag: High-risk and adventurous activities like riding ATVs, mountain climbing and heli-skiing are usually excluded from coverage.

That means you’d likely be on the hook for expensive emergency medical bills if you get hurt while hurling yourself out of a helicopter. But I certainly don’t want to discourage you from having a good time. I talked to a few other travel insurance experts to come up with some practical solutions.

Your Adventure Begins in the Fine Print

“Vacationers who are looking to add adventure to their travels need to do a little research to ensure their agenda of events is covered,” says Angela Borden, a spokesperson for Seven Corners. The easiest way to do that is to review the travel insurance policy, which provides a definition for extreme or adventurous activities, Borden adds.

“Write down all the possible activities you plan to engage in during your vacation and pick a plan that will cover them all,” says Terra Baykal, a spokesperson for World Nomads. “If you don’t see your particular activity listed, then give the travel insurance company a call and get clarity” on whether it’s covered.

Be careful of blanket language like “extreme sports,” adds Jason Schreier, CEO of Travel & Event Insurance Division for Aegis General. Since that can be open to interpretation, Schreier recommends that you list each activity you’re considering and email the travel insurance company to ask about them. That way you’ll have an answer in writing to reference if you have to file a travel insurance claim.

Adventure Is Very Subjective

While most travelers would consider hang-gliding and free soloing as high-risk activities, what about taking a walk on the mild side? Well, make sure you double-check that policy before lacing up your boots. We’ve looked at policies that exclude coverage for relatively tame activities like camping, cross-country running, hiking, trekking and even ballet.

“One plan may allow you to hike around rocks and also swim in the ocean,” says Baykal, “but if you jumped off rocks into the ocean, you might not be covered, no matter the height.”

If you’re the competitive type, you’d probably assume that participating in a mixed martial arts tournament during a trip wouldn’t be covered. But what about low-key games like races and racquet sports? Again, double-check that policy before you make room on your trophy shelf.

“Competitions, both amateur and professional, are often excluded by most policies,” says Schreier. That includes non-contact sports like races, tennis and pickleball tournaments, he says.

And if you’re the type just to enjoy a few drinks while others play hard, don’t think you’re off the hook. Imbibing can also cause a travel insurance hangover.

“With alcohol being a common component of many people’s travels and the rise in cannabis tourism, travelers should keep in mind that any activities they participate in while over the legal limit that result in a medical claim would be excluded,” says Schreier.

Travel Insurance Can Be a Thrill-Seeker’s Safety Net

While many heart-pounding activities are off the table with some travel insurance policies, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a great policy for your next trip. You can find plans that cover a range of adventurous activities. For example, World Nomads covers more than 250 activities, including skydiving, the running of the bulls, skateboarding, ziplining and even air guitar.

The key to finding the best travel insurance plan is understanding exactly what’s covered and what’s excluded. Get clarification from the travel insurance company if you’re not sure. And if your activity isn’t covered, buying the policy anyway could be a financially devastating choice if you do get hurt. Talk about a major buzzkill.