Sports insurance, in some cases compulsory, has special policies dedicated to sportsmen or anyone who wants to pursue a sport. They are very important because they not only protect the owner but intervene to reimburse any damage to third parties, to the structures, and above all reimburse medical expenses and treatment in the event of an injury or accident on the sports field.
What is Sports Insurance?
Sports insurance is an insurance contract that you can stipulate with any insurance agency that has this protection formula among its packages. Taking out sports insurance, for oneself or for a child, is a gesture of great responsibility that puts the athlete in safety and guarantees reimbursement of any medical expenses in the event of an injury or accident. Sports insurance can be taken out by:
- All sportsmen, even occasional ones, who practice a sport at an authorized facility and in the presence of instructors;
- The professional sportsmen, for which it is mandatory;
- All minors who play sports, naturally with the signature of the parent or guardian;
- Goers of gyms and swimming pools;
- Lovers and practitioners of water sports;
- Winter sports lovers and practitioners;
- Extreme sports lovers and practitioners.
Sports insurance is used to protect both the signer of the contract is the third or structure used for sports. Here are some examples, to better understand the usefulness of a sports policy :
- Personal damage to the sportsman such as injuries, accidents;
- Damage caused by the sportsman to third parties, especially as regards team sports. It is common for a teammate or opponent to be inadvertently injured during a team sport match. The insurance covers in these cases and reimburses the medical expenses to the victim;
- Damage is caused to structures, for example, if the sportsman accidentally breaks or damages objects or tools owned by the company, the gym, or the swimming pool frequented. Being insured for sport allows you to practice sport in total serenity, complying with all types of civil liability, and being sure that you can receive all the best care in the event of an accident because you will not need to pay for them out of your own pocket.
What does sports insurance cover?
Sports insurance covers all situations of damage or accident caused while playing sports. In the case:
- Pay the insured for medical treatment in the event of an accident or injury, including any surgery, hospitalization, recovery therapy, physiotherapy, psychological support;
- Reimburse any damage that the insured may cause to third parties. If the athlete hurts or damages a teammate or an opponent, the insurance will take care of the complete medical treatment of the victim, including the payment of any biological damage;
- Reimburse any damage that the athlete may cause to the sports facility in which he trains, so in the event, the insured accidentally breaks a tool, a device, a machine owned by the gym, sports club, or swimming pool where he trains.
When sports insurance is mandatory
The insurance policy for sports activities is, in some cases, mandatory in order to be able to access the services of the sports facility. Here are the cases, according to the decree of November 3, 2010 :
- Professional sportsmen;
- Amateur sportsmen with a card from any Sports Federation;
- Technicians, managers of Sports Federations;
- Instructors, personal trainers, lifeguards, anyone who works in the sports field.
For those who practice sports at an amateur level, insurance is not mandatory but highly recommended. Especially for children and teenagers, it is generally recommended to think about their safety and protect themselves in case they could cause any injury or accident.
Cases where sports insurance can refuse to pay
Like all insurances, even the formula dedicated to sportsmen has a precise regulation, which provides for exceptions to reimbursement. The regulation of sports insurance provides that the conditions exist to intervene with the economic coverage. In the case:
- The accident must occur in the competent sports facility, in the presence of at least one instructor and therefore in the performance of the sport in accordance with the rules;
- Accident must be violent and fortuitous;
- The accident must be an event that one cannot avoid or prevent;
- Accident must occur during the regular course of activities. In light of this regulation, the exceptions are easily understandable.
The insurance does not pay in the following cases:
- For accidents occurring while playing sports in unsuitable places (for example football on the lawn behind the house, beach volleyball at the sea) and for recreational and entertainment purposes
- Accidents occurred while playing sports for pure personal pleasure, therefore not in the presence of an instructor, teacher, or coach;
- The Accidents occurring while playing a sport without taking all precautions for your safety, therefore classified as an avoidable event;
- Accidents occurring while under doping, drugs, drugs, or alcohol. Likewise, sports insurance does not compensate for injuries that occur if you play sports when there is a medical certificate that requires rest or stop period.
Family life insurance, as the name implies, provides coverage for the couple, of all types. In this case, the children will be even more protected, since they know that, in case something happens to one of their parents, they will have the necessary resources to avoid difficulties. The possible coverage of family insurance varies according to the needs of the contractor.
The exception: insurance for extreme sports
Extreme sports deserve a separate discussion. Some examples:
- Bunjee jumping;
- Free climbing;
- Parachuting;
- Off-piste skiing;
- Acrobatic activities, in the field of horse riding, skateboarding, snowboarding, diving, acrobatic artistic gymnastics, acrobatic dance, circus sports;
- Paragliding.
In these cases, the basic sports insurance policy can still be stipulate and covers according to the regulatory requirements. However, in the event of an accident, one could appeal to the reckless act, a condition that goes beyond this type of protection contract. To practice extreme sports with the safety and guarantee of having insurance that covers a possible accident, it is necessary to request the stipulation of supplementary insurance that will enrich the coverage possibilities of the basic one. In fact, most insurance agencies offer special optional packages, precisely to complete this type of insurance contract. The sports insurance policy for extreme sports provides:
- The same conditions are required for taking out a basic policy;
- Some sports are forbidden for minors but supplementary clauses can be signed in some cases for motorcycling, cross biking, acrobatic sports.
With this comprehensive policy, all accidents are cover, even those cause by a reckless gesture or by extreme experiments to improve one’s preparation and competence. We think, for example, of the couples of acrobatic dancers who try particularly difficult and risky figures for the first time, of those who try to beat the speed limits by bike, of those who try parachute jumps or particularly scenic and risky paragliding flights with the will to win records or break their own personal bests.
Mountain insurance
When you go to the mountains to hike, ski, or discover new paths, you should never underestimate the risk of accidents.
For this reason, taking cover by insurance is essential if not to reduce the risk of accidents, at least to have a series of guarantees on possible accidents and damage to things or people.
The ‘ mountain insurance is a recommendation for those who visit regularly to enjoy hiking, skiing, or other activities at high altitudes.
Speaking of insurance in the mountains, however, can be a bit generic since it can provide various coverage ranging from rescue and recovery to medical expenses for accidents, up to civil liability coverage in the event of damage to things or people.
Before choosing the policy, therefore, it is good to carefully evaluate the type of activity that takes place, be it hiking or sports, evaluating the coverage offered by sports federations or trekking and hiking associations to which you subscribe to carry out the own activity in the mountains.
How to take out insurance for sports activities
Almost all insurance companies offer a specific formula for the protection of the sportsman. To sign a contract, just choose the company of your preference and discuss with the staff professionals to get advice on the contract that best suits your needs. As this is normal and traditional insurance, online insurance is also available.
You may also like: Understanding how life insurance works