Mountain insurance - where, how and why?

Since mountain climbing and trekking are more dangerous activities than sunbathing under a palm tree, regular travel insurance usually isn’t enough in the mountains. Typically, standard health insurance for travel ceases to be valid at higher altitudes, especially when technical equipment (ropes, ice axes, crampons, etc.) is involved. In this article, you’ll learn about the most recommended mountain insurance providers, how to arrange insurance, and how it works.

Health insurance in the mountains

When choosing mountain insurance, determine how high and to which country you plan to go. Some mountain insurance is only valid in Europe or only up to a certain altitude. However, those service providers whose insurance is valid worldwide regardless of altitude often charge a higher price for the service.

Europe and lower mountains

One of the best and most used providers in Europe Austrian Alpine Club insurance (Austrian Alpine Club). It can be purchased for a whole year at once for around €70 and is valid in mountains below 6000 m, even further away from Europe. The altitude restriction can be removed for an additional fee.

The Austrian Alpine Club insurance covers:

  • basic rescue costs, including costs related to helicopter rescue (max. €25);

  • hospital expenses and transportation costs to the home country from abroad (max. €10);

  • costs of damage you have caused to third parties or their property (applies only in Europe).

  • In addition to insurance, membership in the Austrian Alpine Club also gives discounts at many Alpine mountain huts - so if you visit the Alps a lot, membership quickly pays off financially.

Purchasing insurance is very easy - you just need to fill out a form on the website, pay the annual fee, and wait for your membership card to arrive in your mailbox. Of course, a virtual membership card will also be sent to your email.

For a one-off or short-term trip, a home-made one is actually fine, Swedbank travel insurance offered with additional protection for hazardous activities. For a 10-day European trip, this means an additional outlay of €32 on top of the standard insurance. However, there are certain limitations to Swedbank's insurance - it applies up to 5500 m altitude and peaks with a maximum difficulty level of AD; rock climbing is not covered (but it does cover via ferrata, trails up to difficulty level 3). Therefore, if you plan to spend more time in the mountains or go higher and further afield, it makes more financial sense to purchase year-round insurance from another provider.

the whole world and the highest mountains

One option is Impact Multisports insurance, the insurance conditions of which are similar to those of the Austrian Alpine Club, but Impact insurance does not have a height limit and rescue costs are reimbursed up to a maximum of €30. Impact is a bit more expensive in terms of price (annual global insurance costs €000 and annual pan-European insurance costs €102), but it also covers several other extreme sports. However, Impact does not offer discounts at Alpine huts.

But there are even more service providers. For example: Global Rescue, which is valid globally, has no height restrictions and reasonable conditions, but is priced significantly higher than its competitors. Global Rescue is one of the most popular insurance providers in high mountains.

A cheaper alternative without height restrictions is another Austrian alpine club/insurance provider Nature lovers, whose annual fee is only €60, and for €12 you can purchase annual standard travel insurance (to cover hospital expenses).

additional insurances

Mountain insurance only protects you in the event that something happens to your health in the mountains. But when traveling, things can go wrong elsewhere too - you could sprain your ankle while walking down the street, the airline could lose your luggage or cancel your flight. How can you protect yourself in such cases?


health

If you are traveling in Europe (including the United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland) and your European Health Insurance Card, in addition to mountain insurance, this is sufficient to protect your health and there is no need to take out separate duplicate health insurance. However, when traveling outside of Europe (including, for example, Georgia), it is absolutely necessary to purchase regular health insurance in addition.


travel disruption

In any case, we recommend that you also take out trip cancellation insurance - if you get sick a few days before your trip or cannot travel for another reason, you will be able to get your trip refunded through the insurance provider.


Luggage

If you are traveling by plane, be sure to take out luggage insurance. Losing your checked luggage at the beginning of your trip means you will need to rent or buy all the equipment you need for the mountains at your destination, and this may not be a cheap option. Therefore, we recommend that you pack in your hand luggage or put on your plane all the items you need for the summit day (e.g. mountain boots on your feet, a down jacket and shell jacket in your bag, a helmet and belt in your bag). Please note that crampons, picks and ice axes are not allowed in your hand luggage, and we also do not recommend that you pack a lot of metal needed for climbing (clamps, carabiners) in your hand luggage.

Ask your service provider for travel disruption, baggage and classic health insurance suitable for travel (Ergo, Swedbank, Salva, IF, etc.).

NB! This is a list based on experience, not a comprehensive overview - terms and prices may change compared to what is presented here. Always check the terms and conditions of a specific service provider before taking out insurance.