A. At present we can only offer travel insurance to residents of the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Canada and the United States.

What's important here is your country of residence rather than your nationality.

• If you are a US or Canadian citizen resident in the United Kingdom or the Channel Islands and have not spent more than six months abroad (outwith the UK) during the year before the policy is issued you should use this site.

• If you are resident in the United States or Canada, clicking the link below will take you to our North American site.

Go to Dogtag USA

A. Dogtag can offer Annual Multi-trip and Single Trip cover for anybody up to the age of 64. Our Backpacker/Gap cover is limited to people up to the age of 55.

A. To be able to take advantage of the lower joint travel insurance premiums offered to couples, you have to have been living permanently together at the same address for at least 6 months. You do not have to be married nor do you have to be of the same sex.

A. Yes you can travel independently, though children will only be insured if they are accompanied by one of the insured adults.
If you cannot accompany your child, you'll have to purchase an individual adult policy for that child. See the question below regarding minors travelling alone for help with that.

A. It is an underwriter stipulation that if a minor is traveling alone you must purchase an adult policy even if you already have a Family or Single Parent policy.

We'll be very happy to help you with this so it's best to phone our sales team because our on-line system is designed to prevent minors from buying their own policy. If your child requires their own individual policy, just call 0800 036 4824. We have a discount scheme for minors so remember to ask for the discount.

A. This policy will NOT cover any claims under Cancellation (A1) & Curtailment (B3) arising directly or indirectly from any Pre-existing Medical Condition, (known to you prior to the commencement of the Period of Insurance) affecting any:

• Close Relative who is not traveling as an Insured Person under this policy; or
• traveling companion who is not insured under this policy; or
• person with whom You intend to stay whilst on Your Trip,

If during the 90 days immediately prior to the commencement of the Period of Insurance they had:

• a. required surgery, inpatient treatment or hospital consultations; or
• b. required any form of treatment or prescribed medication; or
• c. if they were on a waiting-list for, or had knowledge of the need for, surgery, inpatient treatment or investigation at any hospital or clinic at the commencement of the Period of Insurance; or
• d. if a terminal diagnosis had been received prior to the commencement of the Period of Insurance.

A. Once you've bought your Dogtag 100% Proof Travel Insurance you'll get a confirmation with your Tag number and password. Simply go to the Members tab or the Log-in at the top of every page and type in your Tag number. You'll then be asked for your Tag number and password. Once you've logged in you'll arrive at a Welcome page.

The topic on the left-hand panel gives you the opportunity to check your policy details and update the medical information for each member of your insured party.

IMPORTANT NOTE!
Your medical information is there for use in an emergency by a medic. The act of updating your medical information does not inform the insurer of any changes in your circumstances vis-a-vis your insurance. In the event that there is a change to any pre-existing medical condition or you are diagnosed with a new condition, then please contact the medical screening health line on 01732 853 088.

A. This is when your personalised Dogtag comes into play!
If you have a medical emergency and either have to prove you're insured or a medic has to access your medical information, all they have to do is to check your dogtag and go to the website mentioned on the back (www.dogtag.net).

Once there, they can hit the red Emergencies button on the Home page and enter:

• your Tag number
• your name (as it is engraved on your tag).

They can then access several important pieces of information displayed there:

• a statement of validity and currency of your Dogtag insurance policy
• access any medical details which you have chosen to publish for use in an emergency
• access details of your next of kin

You can also use this Dogtag system in the above manner if you have to contact us in an emergency or you can log in to your own personal Dogtag system using your tag number and your password.

A. A pre-existing medical condition means any serious or recurring medical condition which has been previously diagnosed, investigated or treated in any way, at any time prior to travel, even if this condition is currently considered to be stable and under control.

A. Here are some questions that you might be asked by an underwriter in the event of a claim:

1. Have you, or anyone travelling with me ever had treatment for:
• any heart or circulatory condition?
• a stroke or high blood pressure?
• a breathing condition (including asthma)?

• any type of cancer?

• any type of diabetes?

2. In the last 2 years - have I, or anyone who is travelling with me, been treated for any serious or re-occurring medical condition, asked to take regular prescribed medication, or referred to a specialist or consultant at a hospital for tests, diagnosis or treatment?

3. Are you are waiting for tests, test results or treatment of any description?

4. Has your doctor altered your regular prescribed medication in the last 3 months?

If you answered "Yes" to any of the four questions above, you must tell us. We may be able to offer cover for your medical condition, although an increased premium may be required or increased policy excess applied. To enable us to consider your medical condition please contact Travellers HealthCheck on 01732 853 088.

If your answers were "NO" at the time of booking insurance but change to "YES" prior to departure, you will need to contact Travellers HealthCheck to ensure that full cover for your condition is available. Please contact us on 01732 853088.

A. First of all, in brief, we can usually help most people with a Pre-existing Medical Condition but you should declare it before you buy your cover otherwise you will not be covered by any claim relating to your known pre-existing condition. So don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call the help line on 01732 853088.

Now here's the information in detail:
As we've mentioned above, you can declare Pre-existing Medical Conditions by contacting our medical screening helpline on 01732 853088. All travel insurance companies require the policyholder to disclose any material fact that may influence them in their decision to accept or decline a risk. When obtaining a quotation please read all the terms and conditions which will guide you through the simple process.

This insurance operates on the following basis:

• To be covered, You must be healthy, fit to travel and to undertake Your planned Trip;
• The insurance will NOT cover You when You are traveling against the advice of a Medical Practitioner (or would be traveling against the advice of a Medical Practitioner had You sought his/her advice);
• The insurance will NOT cover You when You are traveling with the intention of obtaining medical treatment or consultation abroad.
• The insurance will NOT cover You if You have any undiagnosed symptoms that require attention or investigation in the future (that is symptoms for which You are awaiting investigations/consultations, or awaiting results of investigations, where the underlying cause has not been established)

No claim arising directly or indirectly from a Pre-existing Medical Condition affecting You will be covered unless:

• You have declared ALL Pre-existing Medical Conditions to Us; and
• You have declared any changes in Your health or prescribed medication; and
• We have accepted the condition(s) for insurance in writing.

For the purposes of this insurance a Pre-existing Medical Condition is considered to be any serious or recurring medical condition which has been diagnosed previously, investigated or treated in any way, at any time prior to travel, even if this condition is currently considered to be stable and under control.

You can declare your Pre-existing Medical Conditions by contacting our medical screening helpline on 01732 853088.

A. This policy will NOT cover any claims under Cancellation (A1) & Curtailment (B3) arising directly or indirectly from any Pre-existing Medical Condition, (known to you prior to the commencement of the Period of Insurance) affecting any:

• Close Relative who is not traveling as an Insured Person under this policy; or
• traveling companion who is not insured under this policy; or
• person with whom You intend to stay whilst on Your Trip,

If during the 90 days immediately prior to the commencement of the Period of Insurance they had:

• a. required surgery, inpatient treatment or hospital consultations; or
• b. required any form of treatment or prescribed medication; or
• c. if they were on a waiting-list for, or had knowledge of the need for, surgery, inpatient treatment or investigation at any hospital or clinic at the commencement of the Period of Insurance; or
• d. if a terminal diagnosis had been received prior to the commencement of the Period of Insurance.

A. In general, most policies will provide full cover to a pregnant policyholder, providing the expected delivery date in not within 8 weeks (or 16 weeks in the case of a known multiple pregnancy) of the start of their trip.

Please read the relevant policy wording carefully and make sure you are happy with it before making your purchase. You can view the policy details by clicking HERE.

You should make sure you have some written evidence of the predicted due date and work back 8 weeks (or 16 weeks in the case of a known multiple pregnancy) from that.

In the event that the policyholder has had a difficult pregnancy (i.e. high blood pressure) then this must be disclosed at the time of purchasing the insurance to ensure that full cover is validated.

A. Contact the Emergency Medical Assistance company stated on the policy Their role is to guide and advise you and liaise with the treating doctors where appropriate. If you have to make any payments relating to sickness overseas remember to hold onto all the receipts as you'll need these when making a claim.

A. Regarding the ongoing care of travelers when they return home to the UK when sick or injured, the simple answer is that Travel Insurance is designed to get people home and into the care of the NHS or perhaps a private healthcare scheme if the person involved is a member.

Even if the situation called for evacuation of a casualty back to the UK by air ambulance, the traveler would be met on arrival by an ambulance (paid for by the insurance company) to take them to hospital, at which point the cover ends.

A. The following are the maximum durations for each trip taken:

Annual Multi-trip travel insurance policies:

• Maximum Trip Duration 31 Days (62 days if additional premium paid)
• Maximum optional Winter Sports Trip Duration: 17 Days (24 or 31 days if the additional premium is paid).*

*Please note that on purchasing our ANNUAL Multi-Trip Travel Insurance policy, if you select 17 (or 24 or 31) days Winter Sports cover it will provide you with that maximum number of days winter sports cover during the term of the policy (not an unlimited number of winter sports trips of 17 (or 24 or 31) days durations).

If you wish to make a trip that extends beyond the limits shown above then you should consider purchasing either an Extended stay Single-Trip or Backpacker/Gap Year policy which are designed to provide cover for lengthy stays overseas

Single Trip travel insurance policies:

You can purchase a Single Trip policy for any duration from 10 days to 18 months.

Winter sports cover is an optional add-on to SINGLE TRIP policies and must be selected at the time of purchase. For shorter single trip durations (10, 17, 24 or 31 days) you will select cover for the whole period. For "Extended" Single Trip cover (anything up to 18 months), you can select winter sports for all or only a specific part of your trip.

Backpacker/Gap Year Insurance policies:

Backpacker is similar to Single Trip above in that you can select a variety of trip lengths up to a maximum of 18 months.

Backpacker/Gap is designed for those taking a lengthy period out for trekking or touring etc. You can add 17 days of winter sports cover if you think you might get the chance to ski or snowboard while on your trip but if you expect to spend more than that on the snow then you should choose a Single Trip policy which allows for the addition of longer stretches on the snow.

A. The following are the maximum durations for each trip taken that are covered by our Annual Multi-Trip travel insurance policies. If you wish to make a trip that extends beyond the limits shown here then you should consider purchasing either a Single Trip or Gap Year policy which are designed to provide cover for lengthy stays overseas.
Annual Multi-trip durations:
• Maximum Trip Duration 31 Days as standard (62 days if additional premium paid)
• Maximum Winter Sports Trip Durations of 17, 24 or 31 days dependent on the option chosen and additional premium paid.

* IMPORTANT WINTER SPORTS INSURANCE NOTE *
Winter sports cover is an optional add-on and must be selected at the time of purchase. Please note that on purchasing our Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance policy, you may select 17, 24 or 31 days Winter Sports cover and will provide you with that maximum number of days winter sports cover during the term of the policy (not an unlimited number of winter sports trips of 17 (or 24 or 31) days durations).

A. When you purchase an Annual Multi-trip travel insurance policy you will specify a start date and until that date you will not have any cover. If you are leaving on a trip in say one month's time and wish to have cancellation cover etc then set your travel insurance policy to start the day you purchase the policy.

A. A Single Trip or Backpacker/Gap Year travel insurance policy is designed to protect you whilst travelling between the start and end dates of your policy. Specifically, you are covered from the time you leave your home to commence your journey until your arrival back home.

However, from the moment you purchase the policy, you do have Cancellation cover for the cost of your trip, up to the limits of your chosen policy level. You can check those cover levels on the Cover Details page in the top navigation bar.

A. In the wake of current middle east affairs and health situations there may be heightened tension and some disruption to travel world-wide. All travelers must take into consideration the advice of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Our policy does not provide cover under any section of the policy if your travel is to an area where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against 'all travel'. If you are not sure whether there is a warning for your destination, please check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Tel. 020 7008 0232 or 020 7008 0233 or visit their web-site at www.fco.gov.uk).

A. Severe Acute Respiratory Sickness (SARS) is a cause for concern to all travelers and our underwriters have issued the following guidance which you need to read and understand.

• Cancellation. If you are cancelling due to concerns over SARS or new health guidelines this is not covered. Tour Operators and Airlines are generally flexible enough to accept a change of holiday destination due to a 'major' situation taking place that is outside the control of the customer.
• Traveling against official advice. If the World Health Organisation and/or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issue specific advice against traveling to an area due to a health issue such as SARS and you choose to ignore such advice then the insurance will not cover you for claims related to that health warning.

Impact of travel advice issued after travel has commenced. Any individual who is in an infected or at-risk area and has or had been so prior to the World Health Organisation and/or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issuing specific advice against traveling to that area due to a health issue such as SARS would remain fully covered, but you should contact the emergency number given on your cover letter before incurring any costs.

A. Immediately obtain, from the airport authorities, a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and pass this with all other appropriate documents to validate your claim upon your return to the UK. An amount can be claimed if your baggage is mislaid on your outward journey beyond a certain period (usually 12 hours) for you to obtain replacement essential toiletries and clothing etc.

A. Section B10 of the policy details does provide cover for each full day you are confined as a result of the flight, international train or sea vessel you are booked on being hijacked during your journey. Your policy also provides a benefit in Section B11 should you become the victim of Mugging, which results in your hospitalisation during your journey because of a mugging involving a violent and threatening attack where you receive a bodily injury.

In respect of a terrorist activity, all sections of this policy other than, B4, emergency medical expenses will not cover you for any claim arising from, or consisting of: war, terrorism, biological or chemical warfare, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war has been declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection or military or usurped power.

A. Cancellation cover applies if you have booked a trip to take place within the period of insurance but you are forced to cancel your travel plans because of circumstances outwith your control and of which you were unaware at the time of booking the trip.

As soon as you are aware you have to cancel your travel plans, you must inform your tour operator/booking agent immediately as cancellation charges change depending on how close the cancellation is to your travel date. Your insurance policy will cover for you for the cancellation charges that apply at the time it becomes apparent you will need to cancel your trip i.e. date of diagnosis so it is important that you cancel straight away.

A. Curtailment (cutting short) of your trip is covered if you have to return home because of unforeseen circumstances. Cover is limited to certain circumstances specified in your policy and you should check the policy fine detail to ensure your policy has the right level of cover. If you need to curtail or cut short your trip you must contact the Emergency Medical Assistance company before you make any plans. Their contact details are shown in the policy wording document.

A. Certain Dogtag policy levels (MAX and PRO only) provide compensation for delayed departure on your outward or inward journey due to things like adverse weather or breakdown.

A. Obtain a confirmatory note from the airline confirming the reason for the delay, together with scheduled and actual departure times and pass this to our claims office. We will also extend your policy free of charge in the event your flight is delayed beyond the period of insurance.

A. If your policy was bought between 28th Feb 2010 and 30th Nov 2010, you can download and view your policy details HERE.

If you policy was bought on or after 1st December 2010, you can download and view your policy details HERE. This is the current cover on offer from Dogtag. You can also see a table summarising the cover HERE.

A. Insurance Premium Tax (or IPT) is a mandatory tax set by the government (currently 17.5% on travel insurance) applied to the selling price of all travel insurance policies. Like VAT you have no option but to pay IPT and as such our quotes already include it. However, IPT is unlike VAT inasmuch as you cannot reclaim it if your purchase is a business purchase.

A. An excess is the first amount you will have to pay in the event of making a claim. For example if your claims settlement figure is £500 and the excess is £75 your payment would be £425.00

A. With any insurance, the policyholder should always act as though he has no insurance at all and take all measures to protect their property and themselves.

A. Our policies carry inner limits for valuables around the £200 mark, so please ensure that you have appropriate cover for your valuables under your household contents insurance prior to departing. When in resort use the safety deposit box or safe in room for any valuables, cameras, passports, money etc. as your policy will not provide cover for the loss or theft of valuables left unattended unless in a locked safe or out of sight in your locked trip accommodation.

A. Section B10 of the policy details does provide cover for each full day you are confined as a result of the flight, international train or sea vessel you are booked on being hijacked during your journey. Your policy also provides a benefit in Section B11 should you become the victim of Mugging, which results in your hospitalisation during your journey because of a mugging involving a violent and threatening attack where you receive a bodily injury.

In respect of a terrorist activity, all sections of this policy other than, B4, emergency medical expenses will not cover you for any claim arising from, or consisting of: war, terrorism, biological or chemical warfare, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war has been declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection or military or usurped power.

A. Section B12 of the Policy wording does provide cover for costs you incur as a result of insolvency of your travel end supplier, which could be a scheduled airline, ferry, cruise, coach or rail company, caravan, mobile home, campsite or car rental company, hotel, villa, cottage or similar accommodation provider, excursion or safari company or theme park.

If the insolvency is prior to departure, then the cover pays for irrecoverable sums paid in advance if the end supplier becomes insolvent OR if the insolvency is after departure, it will pay for extra pro rata costs you have to pay to replace that part of the end suppliers arrangements to a similar standard to that which was originally booked; or if curtailment of the journey is unavoidable - the cost of return transport to your home country to a similar standard to that which was originally booked.

A. In the first instance please email us including your policy number and the required alteration. In the vast majority of cases we will simply update and re-send your plain text cover letter by email. If you need to extend your cover then there may be an additional premium to pay, in which case this needs to be done on the phone as for security reasons we do not hold your credit card number.

A. Don't worry! Simply send us an email including your surname and the date that you purchased your policy and we'll resend your policy by email.

A. Your baggage is covered within the limits stated in your policy document while it is in your care. However, we need to be aware of the situation once you have entrusted your baggage to the airline:

Airline Baggage Responsibilities

Under normal circumstances, the airline is responsible for your baggage while it is in their care. If your bags go missing or are damaged between checking them in at departures and your arrival, immediately obtain, from the airport authorities, a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and pass this with all other appropriate documents to validate your claim upon your return to the UK. An amount can be claimed on your travel insurance if your baggage is mislaid on your outward journey beyond a certain period (usually 12 hours) for you to obtain replacement essential toiletries and clothing etc.

NOTE: Once your bags are in the care of the airline it is their legal responsibility to get you and your luggage to your destination airport intact. it is very common for airlines and baggage handlers to dismiss passengers whose luggage has been damaged or lost in transit by informing the passenger that 'you should claim it on your travel insurance.' Certain airlines make it their policy to fob passengers off in this way and can be quite obstructive or belligerant. However, you should stand our ground, they know the rules and will eventually comply with them.

Plainly, paying out on every lost or damaged baggage claim would absolve airlines of any responsibility to look after your bags properly, accelerate airlines' already growing cynicism with regard to baggage and eventually collapse the travel insurance industry. Accordingly, once you have entrusted it to their care, it is the airline's responsibility and it is they to whom you should address claims for compensation.

Here's what BA have to say on their website. As you can see, they are quite aware of an airline's responsibilities:

• Baggage delays
In case of baggage delay, the air carrier is liable for damage unless it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage or it was impossible to take such measures. The liability for baggage delay is limited to 1,131 SDRs (approximately £1,000 or EUR1,230).

• Destruction, loss or damage to baggage
The air carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to baggage up to 1,131 SDRs (approximately £1,000 or EUR1,230). In the case of checked baggage, it is liable even if not at fault, unless the baggage was defective. In the case of unchecked baggage, the carrier is liable only if at fault.

• Higher limits for baggage
A passenger can benefit from a higher liability limit by making a special declaration at the latest at check-in and by paying a supplementary fee.

• Complaints on baggage
If the baggage is damaged, delayed, lost or destroyed, the passenger must write and complain to the air carrier as soon as possible. In the case of damage to checked baggage, the passenger must write and complain within seven days, and in the case of delay within 21 days, in both cases from the date on which the baggage was placed at the passenger's disposal.

A. Please refer to the Contact Us page under UK Claims and Medical Emergency section. There you will find all appropriate contact details (which can also be found on your cover letter and on the policy document). The claims contact details will vary depending upon your policy number so have that to hand when you log in.

Please note that as most insurance companies sub-contract their claims processes to specialist customer service companies, we are not able to send out claim forms - it is always faster to contact the correct claim number or download from their website www.travel-claims.net.

A. Yes, all our policies carry a cooling off period of up to 14 days after purchase as long as you have not yet travelled.

A. If you have a complaint regarding the assistance or claims handling, please contact:

Branch Manager
URV
Oast Business Centre
North Frith Farm
Ashes Lane
Hadlow
KENT
TN11 9QU

If you have a complaint regarding selling of the policy, please contact:

DOGTAG Ltd
PO Box 385 
Tonbridge 
Kent 
TN9 9AN

However, if you are still unhappy then you should write to the Insurance Ombudsman who now operates under the aegis of The Financial Ombudsman Service:

The Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SR
Phone 0845 080 1800
Switchboard 020 7964 1000
Main Fax 020 7964 1001
Email enquiries@dogtag.co.uk

A. Dogtag provides sports travel insurance for a comprehensive list of the sports. The list of sports is huge and the easiest way to see if your sport is covered is to check the Sports List.

Certain sports are Excluded and we do not cover these under any circumstances.

A. Winter sports cover is an optional add-on to all of our policies and must be selected at the time of purchase. The duration options for winter sports cover vary from product to product:

ANNUAL Multi-Trip Travel Insurance.
You have the option to select either 17 or 24 or 31 days Winter Sports cover and it will provide you with that maximum number of days winter sports cover during the term of the policy (NB: this does not provide an unlimited number of winter sports trips of 17 or 24 or 31 days durations).

Single Trip Travel Insurance
Winter sports cover is an optional add-on to SINGLE TRIP policies and must be selected at the time of purchase. For shorter single trip durations (10, 17, 24 or 31 days) you will select cover for the whole period. For "Extended" Single Trip cover (anything up to 18 months), you can select winter sports for all or only a specific part of your trip.

Backpacker/Gap Travel Insurance
Backpacker/Gap is designed for those taking a lengthy period out for trekking or touring etc. You can add 17 days of winter sports cover if you think you might get the chance to ski or snowboard while on your trip but if you expect to spend more than that on the snow then you should choose a Single Trip policy which allows for the addition of longer stretches on the snow

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Individual types of winter sports such as say, Langlauf, Heli-skiing or Ski Mountaineering are categorised according to the Sport, Sport+ or Extreme categories, so as well as selecting Winter Sports at the quotation stage, you should check the Sports list to find out which category (Sport, Sport+ or Extreme) that your particular winter sport falls into. That's the sport level you must choose. It is your responsibility to ensure that you choose the correct level of cover.

A. Dogtag does cover a whole range of 'extreme sports'. There is no specific definition of 'extreme sports'. Each sport is rated as either Sport, Sport+ or Extreme according to its own merits. Sports and activities falling into Sport+ and Extreme categories command an additional premium. Certain extreme sports are considered so high-risk that we specifically exclude them from cover. To check which category you sport falls under, click Sports List. If you do not see your sport listed you should contact our Customer Services team.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you choose the correct cover level for your sport.

A. We can arrange travel cover for most sports and activities without additional premium and these would fall into our 'Sports' category. However, as with 'Extreme Sports' above, the more high risk the activity, the more likely that there will be an increased premium or that we will not offer any cover for that sport or activity. If you are unsure, you must contact our Customer Services Team to clarify either by email or by phone.

Dogtag does provide scuba diving insurance under its normal minimum level of cover. The limitations applied to scuba diving under our Sport level of cover generally require a maximum dive depth of 30 metres and either members of the insured party diving must hold a PADI certificate of proficiency or you must be diving with a PADI qualified instructor - but please check your policy wording.

Dogtag also provides an Enhanced Dive upgrade which will cover you for higher levels of cover for things like loss of diving days, delayed diving equipment and high levels of cover for your kit.

A. The generally accepted understanding of off-piste (or backcountry) skiing or boarding means 'going out of bounds', i.e. outside the resort boundary (if there is a boundary) or simply off the marked pistes if within the resort area.

If you are going out of bounds or outside marked areas of the resort, we recommend you do so with a fully qualified local guide because, in our view, you will then be taken to the best areas and you'll have a higher degree of comfort concerning your safety. However, we do not insist that you take a guide, you are insured for off-piste without a guide provided that you are not going alone or going against advice. And remember, even some areas within a resort may be considered out of bounds because they are hazardous. In most parts of North America, going out of bounds contravenes local law and you may, at best have your lift pass confiscated or worse, face arrest and have an overnight stay courtesy of the Sherriff's office. Normally there is a physical fence with warning signs so you shouldn't be in any doubt.

It is your responsibility to ensure that on any particular day you are aware of and obey local advice, information and instructions given by the resort authorities and that you obey any signs and information you encounter on the mountain - the source of this information will vary resort to resort and country to country and it is your responsibility to find out.  If a section is marked 'closed' there will be a very good reason for it (e.g. high avalanche danger) and ignoring such signs or advice may invalidate your cover. You should be aware that under the terms of cover, needless self-exposure to peril except in an endeavour to save human life may invalidate your cover.

Obviously, you must never ski off-piste alone.

A. Whether you are on the ski slopes, in the rain forest or in the Himalaya, the rescue system used is the choice of rescue organisation dealing with your case.
For instance, Ski patrollers are generally very well trained and experienced at assessing injuries and managing the evacuation of the injured person off the mountain and to hospital in the manner most appropriate to the injured person's condition. It is they who will decide what is appropriate for the circumstances regardless of who insures you. Serious cases often involve helicopters but, more often, a combination of sled, ski lift and ambulance is more immediate and appropriate.

Other factors such as weather, remoteness and the local availability of rescue systems are also taken into account. Again, it is not uncommon to be asked for proof of insurance whilst on the mountain. Therefore please ensure that you have your Dogtag on you at all times.

A. With any insurance, the policyholder should always act as though he has no insurance at all and take all measures to protect their property and themselves. You should not knowingly put yourself in harms way and you should be aware that under the terms of cover, needless self-exposure to peril except in an endeavor to save human life may invalidate your cover.