Mountain insurance

Protection and security with mountain insurance online

On the high mountain trails, amidst the beauty of nature and the challenges of the mountain peaks, adventures can be intertwined with illnesses, traumas and unexpected unpleasant circumstances.Even a small accident and unforeseen situation there can lead to consequences, the outcome of which can be very expensive.Classic health or travel insurance never covers the costs of the Mountain Rescue Service (MSS) related to rescue activities and search.The cost of the so-called technical intervention (transportation with a stretcher, search, the inclusion of a helicopter flight in the action) in the absence of mountain insurance is paid by the tourist who practiced any sport in the mountains –mountaineering, trekking, winter sports, and this service is not cheap.In addition, ordinary insurance does not cover the risk of runway closures, nor the theft of equipment and gear.Therefore, in order to fully and peacefully enjoy the mountain experiences,the mountain insuranceis an important protection and security tool.

What does Mountain Insurance cover?

Risks related to the life, work capacity and bodily integrity of natural persons for the risks and conditions described below for the time during which they exercise hobby, sports and tourist activities in the mountains.Depending on the package chosen by the user, the following risks may be covered:

• Accidental death and permanent disability.
• Rescue expenses, medical expenses, evacuation expenses, repatriation expenses.

What Mountain Insurance Does Not Cover –information

• Persons under the age of 14, persons over the age of 70, and incapacitated persons cannot be insured for the risk "Death by accident".
• Persons with a loss of working capacity of more than 50% cannot be insured.

Are there any coverage limits on the mountain policy

• Exercising extreme sports and hobbies, in case this is not expressly agreed in the policy.
• Participation in organized competitions embedded in the sports calendars of the respective federations and clubs.
• When preparing, attempting or committing a crime, participating in a beating or physical self-harm.
• Events that occurred during the use of alcohol, medication and narcotic substances;Intentional exposure to danger, suicide and attempted suicide.
• Earthquake.
• War, revolution, terrorism, atomic and nuclear explosions and any events related to military and terrorist acts.

Territorial scope of Mountain Insurance

The insurance coverage of this policy is only for travel within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

For insurance Assistance when traveling abroad: seehere!

See more: Mountain insurance

Although sometimes choosing the right insurance is extremely difficult, there are several essential elements of preparing for a trip to the mountains and more than one situation that it is advisable to consider in advance to reduce the risks of having to make a claim.One of these elements is fitness training – weight running/backpacking, cycling, stair climbing, endurance exercise for long walks and hikes that have a beneficial effect on confidence when visiting the mountains.Another element is the selection and provision of appropriate hiking equipment and gear.Last but not least – specifying whether the visit to the mountain will be for a walk (conventional tourism), trekking, mountain trekking, mountaineering and winter sports. 

Insurers distinguish between conventional tourism, extreme tourism, mountain trekking, mountaineering and winter sports.

Conventional tourism gives access to the mountain by car, bus, and is usually a visit to easily accessible and urbanized places in the mountain without a long trek.Trekking is a journey over rough terrain, and mountain trekking (hiking) is even more extreme.Alpinism or climbing is climbing to any height using special equipment.And winter sports - skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling or mountain biking and other mountain sports are a completely different type of tourism. 

Almost all insurers specify in order to conclude an adequate insurance, according to the needs of the insured person, what the terrain is - that is, it is additionally specified, for example, whether the terrain for trekking is not simply rough, but slightly or heavily rough, as well as the height - it is specified that trekking is a trip in the mountains to a height of up to 1500 m or up to 2000 m, or they may not limit the height at all.In other cases, it is stated that the paths for it must be equipped and marked, sometimes indicating whether there is a guide or not.Companies also pay attention to the nuance of when a mountain pass turns into mountaineering, since in this case it is not even a matter of height.When climbing requires special equipment, then height does not count as a special condition - and straight up the insurance agent recommends "climbing" insurance.

To some, preparing for the worst-case scenario may seem like extreme pessimism, but it's actually just common sense, and when it comes to health and safety, having the right insurance is a must.

Regardless of what type of visit to the mountain will be made, one should always think about the gear and equipment, where there are some mandatory suggestions such as:

• Mountain shoes - harder and more supportive than ordinary hiking shoes;
• Climbing harness - light and comfortable;
• Helmet - including flashlight clips;
• Cats and snowshoes - to increase traction in the snow if you are going to walk;
• Ax - for climbing steep slopes;
• Windproof and waterproof clothing – to retain warmth and ensure you are prepared for different weather conditions.

Types of travel and mountain insurance coverage:

As we have already indicated, mountain activity is not limited to hiking, mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding, but also includes cycling, snowmobiling, as well as other sports.Insurers offer different typesmountain insurance, which are suitable for each type of these types of trips. 

For the different types that involve visits to the mountains and that involve a variety of accidents or situations, the insurance coverages have different coefficients at stake, which are also related to the experience of the tourists.Based on this, as well as the fact that no insurance has been taken out for another type of hobby behavior and sports in the mountains, when an insured event occurs, clarification of the circumstances under which it occurred begins and may end with the event not being recognized as insured and the tourist having to pay the costs out of his own pocket.Practice shows that inexperienced mountaineers, in an attempt to save money (due to ignorance), buy mountain trekking insurance when planning mountain climbing, and subsequently the insurer may not recognize the accident and incident, since the conditions of the insurance will not be met.

Mountaineers and rock climbers are not particularly liked by insurance companies because the risks are quite high and the costs are significant, but there are still options for them as well.

Online mountain insurance –coatings:

Accidents can happen to even the most experienced climbers.Mountain insurance offers customers a variety of coverages that vary depending on the specific policy and insurer.They are usually for medical expenses, rescue expenses, permanent disability expenses and repatriation expenses. 

Medical expenses cover provides medical assistance in case of illness or injury while visiting the mountains.This includes doctor consultations, surgical procedures, hospitalization and medications.Rescue costs are used when the mountain insurance covers rescue operations, and repatriation costs can be added to them - in case of evacuation and return to a medical center.Although accidents are a major feature of most insurance coverage terms, it is extremely important to check exactly what is included in the insurance.The term "accidents" is the general term for injuries, damage to health and even death and is a different term for medical expenses;so care should be taken for both.

Helicopter Rescue Option

It is advisable to pay attention to whether there is a possibility of evacuation by helicopter and what the insurance amount is, because the helicopter, for example, can easily "eat" most of it.However, most often the costs of search and helicopter transport are not covered.Even the most experienced hikers are not immune to mishaps and can get caught in avalanches, thunderstorms, develop altitude sickness and find themselves in other emergency situations.Benign health problems, such as a sprain or pulled muscle, can lead to a complicated situation high up in the mountains, and going down with one of these can have dire consequences.Since cases like this are both unpredictable and common, it is extremely important to know that the insurance covers transportation in such incidents so that even small "whites" do not turn into disasters.

With the sharp ascent in the mountains, altitude sickness may develop.Many insurance companies state whether they cover it or not, and most of them explicitly state in the terms of the insurance whether they apply above 3000 meters above sea level.

In addition to medical expenses, mountain insurance can provide cover for loss of equipment and luggage.Some insurers, for an additional premium, also offer assistance when equipment is lost, stolen or damaged on and off-piste (within resort boundaries and in recognized areas) and for piste closures.

Additional clauses:

Some mountain insurances offer additional clauses that may be useful for specific situations.For example, some policies may include special clauses for helicopter rescue operations, mountaineering rescue teams or cover for extreme mountain conditions.When choosing mountain insurance, it is important to consider whether there are additional clauses that can improve your protection and security during your off-road adventures.

In the event of an insured event, the insured person or his relatives are obliged to notify the insurance company of the incident.But no later than 3 (three) days after learning about the occurrence of the insured event.

Mountain Insurance Limitations:

Mountain tourism insurances often have certain limitations.These include age, specific conditions for certain mountain activities, maximum coverage duration or maximum coverage for a certain amount.It is important to read the terms and conditions of the policy carefully to ensure that they meet the needs and requirements of the traveler and sportsperson.The determination of the insurance according to the type of trip includes whether it will be on the territory of the country.And whether the insured persons will be Bulgarian / foreign citizens, whether they will be children, over 65 years old, etc. 

If it seems that what is written in the General Terms of Use is too complicated, questions arise or there is no answer previously described on the site - in addition to the opinion and advice of experienced friends and checking in thematic forums, you can also ask in the insurer's chat.

Note that in case you need mountain sports insurance for a foreign country, the right product for you is Insurance for abroad with provided assistance(travel assistance).

Prices and discounts for family and group policies:

To encourage family and group travel and provide protection for the entire family and company, some insurance companies offer discounts on family and group policies.This ensures that everyone on the trip is covered during their mountain adventures and saves money.The most frequently offered bonus discount is a 25% price reduction.

The amount for the insurance premium changes depending on which countries are visited.Usually because of differences in medical care prices between states as well as general conditions.In addition, some insurance companies do not operate in all countries.So it is important to mention in the mountain insurance all the places that are planned to be visited.To avoid any risk of breach of contract if something goes wrong.Although more expensive, some companies offer worldwide insurance to suit the needs of nomadic travelers who are having a hard time determining what their next destination might be.

Through an insurance broker?

When taking out insurance, it is always very important for the policyholder to contact the insurance company or its representative directly to get specific answers to their questions and clarify all the details.Each mountain adventure is specific and has its own characteristics and requirements, so it is advisable to choose insurance that meets all needs and provides reliable protection.

Most often, insurance for climbers is the most expensive.And for trekking – much cheaper.But each insurance company has its own policy and it cannot be said with 100% certainty that alpine insurance costs twice as much as trekking insurance.Some companies have the same ratio for mountaineering and trekking. 

It is equally important, when planning mountain adventures, to make a responsible decision and check in advance the safety procedures and recommendations for the respective regions in the mountains to be visited.The mountain is a magical place, but it's good to take care of yourself and others.So that everyone can enjoy its beauty and challenges, with the security and peace of mind that there is protection in all situations.

So only after proper mountain insurance has been arranged, the insured has adequate physical fitness and the luggage and equipment is packed for all situations in the mountains, can one claim to be ready for a trip that will be truly carefree.

Mountain Sports Insurance Covers	Medical expenses Salvage expenses Permanent loss of incapacity Repatriation costs
If you need help in the mountains	If you are stranded in the mountains and need assistance, call the Mountain Rescue Service (MSS) at number 1470 or the emergency number 112 You leave the mobile phone GPS on Explain the route you took and describe the situation
Advantages of Mountain Insurance for Bulgaria	Payment of compensation in the event of an insured event Comprehensive protection in the event of an accident Flexibility in choosing insurance coverages and term Affordable prices - the price for 1 year is just over BGN 30 Excellent communication on an insurance event with the Mountain Rescue Service Coverage for practicing extreme sports and hobbies in the mountains
Option to conclude online	Mountain insurance can be taken out online in a few steps, paid by debit and credit card and received directly by email as a pdf file.