Decoding Snow Sports Insurance For Newcomers In Canada

From the famed British Columbian powder to the vibrant villages Quebec is known for, Canada’s ski scene is world class. For some newcomers, snow sports might be what attracted you to Canada in the first place. Others will discover snow sports after landing here (and realizing that life doesn’t stop when the temperatures drop).

Unfortunately for newcomers to Canada and temporary residents, it’s not just a matter of renting or buying some gear and lift tickets and hitting the slopes. You need to think about whether your health insurance policy covers snow sports. If it does, you’ll also need to be well versed on any exclusions in your snow sports policy. 

We’ve created this guide to walk you through what matters when it comes to finding and buying a snow sports policy. In it, we talk about common key inclusions and exclusions in snow sports policies, as well as how your status as a newcomer to Canada impacts your insurance needs. 

Key Takeaways

• Snow sports coverage is often an ‘optional extra’ on health insurance policies for IEC participants, temporary workers, and other newcomers to Canada. 
• If you are new to Canada and you plan to go skiing or snowboarding, you need to understand what’s included (and what’s not) in your health insurance policy. 

Understanding Key Inclusions & Exclusions In Snow Sports Coverage

On-Piste vs Off-Piste Coverage

Health insurance policies may include coverage for ‘on-piste’ skiing and snowboarding, but not for off-piste sports. 

While you will need to check your insurance policy or speak with your insurance provider for its definition, off-piste skiing typically means any skiing or snowboarding on ungroomed or unmarked slopes. This could be within the resort boundaries (ie. skiing in the trees) or beyond resort boundaries (in the areas roped off or marked “not patrolled by ski patrol”). 

Many people are surprised that skiing or snowboarding in the trees at the resort may not be covered by their snow sports insurance policy. While off-piste coverage is included in some policies, others require you to be accompanied by a qualified guide in off-piste areas. Others again completely exclude it (meaning it is never covered at all by that policy). So it’s important to carefully read your policy and to reach out to your insurance company directly if you are not sure what’s covered. 

Resort vs Backcountry Coverage

Most health insurance policies will require you to buy additional coverage for any backcountry snow sports. Even then, it’s likely you will need to be accompanied by a professional guide for your insurance to cover you. 

If you want to recreate in the backcountry without a guide, you will likely need to purchase a specialist policy for extreme sports and/or wait until you are eligible for provincial or territorial health coverage. 

Personal Liability Coverage

Personal liability coverage protects you if you hurt someone else or damage property as a result of your actions. In the context of snow sports, this may cover you if you crashed into someone else on the slopes, hurting them and damaging their equipment. 

Again, there are likely to be exclusions that mean you would not be covered if you were drunk or under the influence of drugs, among other things.

Medical Coverage vs Repatriation 

Whether you have medical coverage only or repatriation really depends on your status in Canada. If you are a recent permanent resident of Canada, you may prefer a policy that covers you for emergency medical (and potentially more) for your first few months in Canada. This type of policy allows you to be treated in Canada. We recommend Cigna’s policies for this purpose. 

Meanwhile, IEC participants must have a health insurance policy that includes repatriation coverage. This means that if you are injured (doing snow sports or otherwise), you may be ‘repatriated’ (or required to travel back) to your home country. You will need an IEC-approved insurance policy for this purpose. 

Number Of Days Of Snow Sports Coverage 

If you are only planning on a few days at a resort, you may wish to opt for a limited day policy (if your insurer offers it). This means your insurer would cover you for a limited number of days (ie. 21 days of snow sports coverage from a 365 day policy), which can reduce the overall cost of the policy. 

If you do choose this option, you will need to carefully track the number of days you spend at the resort skiing or snowboarding. 

Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance Coverage

Your health insurance policy that includes snow sports coverage may operate differently from what we usually think of as a ‘travel insurance policy’. Things like cancellation, resort closure, or trip interruption insurance (like if the weather means your plane can’t land and it delays your adventure by a few days) may not be covered. 

You will need to review your policy documents to see if you are covered for trip interruptions and, if not, you might consider buying additional travel insurance for your trip to the resort. 

How Your Immigration Status In Canada Affects Your Snow Sports Insurance Needs

Your residency in Canada, as well as the type of permit you have, impacts your insurance coverage needs. Here’s a quick summary, plus some links to more complete information: 

IEC Participants (Including Working Holidays)

IEC health insurance is a mandatory requirement for IEC participants. To be clear: you will not receive your working holiday permit (or other IEC work permit) if you do not have adequate IEC health insurance for the entire duration of your planned stay. 

Snow sports coverage is not mandatory as part of your IEC insurance policy. But we really stress the importance of getting snow sports coverage if you plan on hitting the slopes while you are in Canada. If you have an accident while skiing or snowboarding and your insurer won’t cover you, it will be financially devastating. The costs can run anywhere from several thousand into the tens of thousands for treatment in Canada, and could reach hundreds of thousands if you are repatriated. 

• You can get a free quote from our partner Best Quote for IEC Insurance, with a snow sports add-on.

Temporary Work Permit

Your insurance requirements as a temporary worker vary depending on which stream you applied under. Some work permits require your employer to buy your health insurance until you are eligible for provincial or territorial coverage, so you may think you are adequately covered for snow sports. Again, this may not be the case. 

Employer-provided policies tend to be relatively limited in scope. These policies also may not consider repatriation or other coverage that may be important to you. For instance, you may wish to be repatriated to your home country in the event of a catastrophic injury. Consider: if you can’t work for six months due to your injury and you aren’t eligible for Canada’s employment insurance, can you afford to stay in Canada? 

• Learn more about health insurance for temporary residents.

Permanent Residents 

The type of insurance you will need for snow sports as a permanent resident of Canada varies depending on if you are already eligible for provincial or territorial coverage. 

• If you’re covered by your provincial insurance plan and you have adequate private health insurance, then you may want to consider travel insurance coverage for trip interruption or cancellation, as well as a home or tenant insurance policy that includes personal liability coverage. 
• If you are not yet covered by your provincial or territorial health insurance, you should consider obtaining insurance for your first few months in Canada. Again, you will need to check the inclusions and exclusions for this policy to confirm whether it includes adequate snow sports coverage.

5 Quick Tips For Newcomers On Buying Health Insurance

1. Always read the policy so you know and understand what you’re buying. Insurance isn’t an investment, it’s essential financial protection against risks you likely can’t afford.
2. If you can’t afford the health insurance, you can’t afford your move to Canada. 
3. Unsure if you need snow sports coverage? Buy a policy that allows you to ‘bolt-on’ snow sports coverage at a later date. 
4. If you don’t understand anything about your coverage, it’s best to reach out to your insurer directly. They will typically have agents ready and willing to help you understand exactly what your policy covers. 
5. It’s not fun to think about, but ensure that your policy includes adequate emergency medical coverage including ambulance trips, hospital services and stays, and potentially medical evacuation for temporary residents.