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Does GHIC Cover Winter Sports?
The GHIC card only covers some of the medical expenses you could incur if injured whilst skiing or snowboarding in Europe. You'll also need travel insurance to help to help pay for medical costs not covered by an EHIC/GHIC, such as private medical care or repatriation whilst on a winter sports holiday. We explain the details below.
- What Do the EHIC and GHIC Cover for Winter Sports?
- Why you Need Travel Insurance and EHIC/GHIC for Winter Sports
EHIC and GHIC Cover for Winter Sports
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) allows you to receive state-provided medical healthcare if you're injured or fall ill whist in the EU and Switzerland. However, it does not cover treatment in all of Europe, with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein excluded.
The cover provided would be the same cost as a citizen of that country. In some cases this cost may be free, in other cases you may still need to pay a portion of medical costs.
All legacy UK-issued EHIC cards have now officially expired. As of 2026, travellers must carry a valid UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) to access state-provided healthcare in the EU and Switzerland.
While a GHIC can cover 'medically necessary' treatment at a state-run facility on the same basis as a local resident, it is only sufficient for minor injuries where you can arrange your own transport home. It will not cover the high costs of mountain rescue, private clinics, or the specialized travel required for more serious accidents.
However, if you are treated in a private facility or your injury is serious enough that you need medical repatriation back to the UK, then your expenses will not be covered by your EHIC/GHIC. Also, if the country you're visiting only offers reduced-cost healthcare (not free) then you'll be responsible to pay what the EHIC/GHIC won't cover—this is where travel insurance comes in.
| Here's What is and Isn't Covered by an GHIC for Winter Sports | |
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| What GHIC Covers |
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| What GHIC Doesn't Cover |
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Why Travel Insurance is Necessary
A travel insurance policy picks up the massive financial tab that the GHIC won't. Recent 2025/2026 data from Aviva shows that the average winter sports injury claim has risen to £2,190, while common but serious injuries like rib fractures can cost an average of £3,150 (and up to £7,827 when complications arise). Without insurance, these costs fall entirely on you. The risk is even higher in non-EU destinations like Canada, where the average claim for UK travellers has reached £7,267. Insurance is the only way to cover private medical fees, air ambulances, and the 'piste-to-plane' repatriation costs that state cover ignores.
| Here's What Travel Insurance with Winter Sports Covers | |
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| GHIC Covers |
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| Travel Insurance Covers |
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Medical repatriation can cost thousands or tens of thousands of pounds, as we discuss in our article Disaster Prevention: How Travel Insurance Rescued 7 Holidaymakers During Medical Emergencies, which details real-life medical emergencies in which British travellers ran into health trouble overseas and needed help from travel insurance to get home.
Don't Get Caught Out
While travel insurance is necessary to help protect you against financial loss in the event of a winter sports accident, there are two critical steps to make sure you have the coverage you need.
You still need a GHIC: Most insurance plans require you to travel with and present your GHIC card for medical treatment, as they expect you to use it for state medical care to keep claim costs down. Warning: Millions of UK travellers are currently heading to the slopes unprotected because they haven't realized their old EHIC has expired. Check your card's expiry date today; if it has lapsed, you should apply for a free GHIC through the NHS website at least two weeks before you travel.
Make sure you have specific Winter Sports Cover: Standard travel insurance almost always excludes skiing and snowboarding. You must add 'Winter Sports' cover to your policy to be protected. In 2026, a week-long trip to Europe for a 35-year-old can be insured for as little as £10.50 to £21.00, a small price compared to a multi-thousand-pound medical bill. For a detailed breakdown of 2026 premiums and what they cover, see our guide: Average Cost of Winter Sports Insurance UK.
Resources
Preparing for winter sports abroad from Gov.uk