Are you SURE you’re insured?

When it comes to going abroad, most people are aware of the need for travel insurance. It is now common knowledge that buying travel insurance to protect your possessions, your luggage and your health is an essential item on the pre-holiday check list. And most important it would seem these days, is finding the right kind of travel insurance to suit both you and your trip. The three top reasons according to the U.S Travel Insurance Association for purchasing it are protection against the unexpected, worries about losing the financial investment that goes into planning a trip, and peace of mind. Even if you’ve planned your trip to be fully restorative – sun soaked beaches, long lunches and minimal activity – there is still a whole host of things that could go wrong, such as flight delays or cancellations, baggage loss, or perhaps you need to cancel your trip due to illness. When you compare the cost of your trip to the cost of a policy, suddenly travel insurance seems well worth the investment.

But what if your trip is going to be more active? Perhaps you’re planning on doing some kitesurfing, sailing or water-rafting? If you’re visiting an adventure capital are you likely to make the most of an opportunity to do a bungee jump? In winter, you might be going skiing or snowboarding? The added risks that come with these sports and with all sports in general are why travel insurance on its own is often insufficient. Following being drunk, the next reason given for rejection of a claim was if the policyholder had undertaken a sport or extreme excursion that was not covered. With the rising popularity of adventure sports holidays where travellers can indulge in challenging new activities while keeping fit, the need for an insurance policy more specific and tailored than its average travel counterpart is becoming more apparent. If lying by the pool, book and cocktail in hand remains your perfect holiday then a standard travel insurance policy will be perfect for you and will cover that level of activity. However, if you’re seeking new thrills and are likely to be tempted by the scuba-diving trip, off-piste skiing day or climbing expedition, then don’t risk your health and the value of your trip by only taking out regular insurance.

At SportsCover Direct, we can offer both sports travel insurance for specific sports as well as more general adventure sports and winter sports travel insurance. With over 20 years’ experience in the sporting field, we have a good idea of what is required from making sure your equipment is protected, to medical expenses, to repatriation to the UK in the event of serious accidents. While we all like to shop around for the best deals when it comes to insurance (or anything!) your priority should be making sure you are fully covered for all the activities you are likely to get involved in, rather than just opting for the cheapest quote. We want to make sure we can fulfil the reasons most of you choose travel insurance: protection against the unexpected - our policies can cover the costs of a hospital stay abroad if you sustain a sudden injury while climbing etc; peace of mind – even when active, holidays should be worry-free and we want to make sure you can enjoy new adventures without being hung up on the ifs and buts; losing the financial investment that goes into planning a trip – just like the standard travel insurance policies, we will still cover the costs of delayed flights, lost baggage and illness!

To find out more visit our site so you can be SURE that you’re insured.

https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/

Sport: Its Endless Benefits

The world we now live in is one caught up with endless rules and measures designed to make life – and sport – ‘safer’. Although it is important to take precautions to minimise the risk of injury, namely for individual benefit, we must not forget the endless positive effects sport can have on health, character and skill!

On the surface, we see the benefits of sport on our health; regular physical activity reduces the risk of chronic conditions including diabetes, cancer, heart disease and musculoskeletal conditions. Staying active improves health as a defined state of complete mental, physical and social well-being and that is why it is so important to try and at least undertake the recommendation of 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. Our bodies are like cars – regular use and movement means they will function better over a longer period of time and though exercise can seem like a chore, fitness is immensely valuable. Aside from the more immediately obvious benefits such as toned physique, a fit and healthy adult will have better proven concentration, co-ordination and stamina than someone physically inactive. They are also likely to have a better posture and a longer life-expectancy…so far so good!

The benefits of daily exercise such as brisk walks to work are one thing, but the additional benefits that come with undertaking sport on a larger scale are better again. You may be involved in an individual sport within a club, such as hill-walking, or you may be a member of a team sport, such as rugby  - either way, the social benefits available in both circumstances make sport, and the opportunities provided by sport, even more wonderful. The chances to meet new people, discover new talents, and form long-standing relationships are limitless so long as you immerse yourself willingly enough! SportsCover Direct covers over 400 sports so we can help to protect you no matter where your interest lies. We can tailor a policy around your needs so you can enjoy your sport to the max.

Find your sport on our site today and get an instant, easy quote:

https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/

2 Most Common Tennis Injuries

When playing any sport, including tennis, there are 2 main types of injuries: acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur suddenly during activity whilst chronic injuries are usually the result from overusing one area of the body while playing a sport or exercising over a long period. 

Andy Murray Inspires The British Nation To Pick Up Their Rackets!

Following Andy Murray’s recent grand slam and Olympic successes, more and more people are being inspired to take up a tennis racquet. As the popularity of tennis increases, adults and children alike are signing up to their local tennis clubs and getting involved, which is great news for the sport!

Better off than on - the importance of kit

Sport is a brilliant way to not only get into shape, but also to have fun and meet like-minded people; friendships forged through team sports can last a lifetime. In order to enjoy your sport to the maximum with minimum worries, it is essential to have a well-equipped kit bag, not only with protective sports equipment but also an appropriate insurance policy that can protect you and your bank account in the case of an accident.

Firstly however, possessing the gear to suit your sport will not only aid high level performance, but also reduce the chance of sustaining injury. Playing badminton with a poorly strung racquet and in worn-out shoes can be just as dangerous as playing hockey without a mouthguard. It is not uncommon for sports players to use equipment that is either inappropriate for the sport they’re playing, or simply does not fit correctly and this can prove dangerous. A helmet is an essential item of protective gear in many sports including horse-riding, biking, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, skating and baseball with softer helmets being more suitable for hockey, football and rugby among others. It is crucial to ensure that the helmet you choose to purchase is suitable for your sport and meets the necessary safety standards such as those set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Eye protection; mouthguards; wrist, knee and elbow guards; and pads for contact sports are other items of protective gear which are designed for a reason and have the ability to make a huge difference in the event of an accident. With so many products now on the market, both in shops and online, there is little excuse to play your sport ill-equipped!

Secondly, your kit bag should also contain an insurance policy to protect you. There is an inextricable link between playing sport and risk – although often low and not to be overly worried about, the very nature of sport involves physical risk which can also result in financial risk. Millions of sports related injuries occur worldwide, 2-3 million in the US alone, and therefore it is important to not be cavalier when it comes to choosing an insurance policy. SportsCover Direct covers 400 sports and prides itself on the specialist cover it can offer, setting it apart from other insurance providers. With 20 years of experience in the field, we know what a beneficial policy should provide from repatriation to medical expenses to legal bills. It is all too easy to adopt the optimistic ‘it will never happen to me’ mentality but this is could prove ruinous to both your physical and financial health!

Find out more about the sports we cover and get a quote here: https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/sports-accident-insurance/

Tennis – Know Your Limits!

Tennis is a popular professional and recreational sport; often played as a singles or doubles match; it is heavily demanding and matches can potentially last for hours. This increases the risk of fatigue related injuries, especially if you play amateur tennis. It is always important to play within your limits and try not to put too much pressure on your body! It’s good to push yourself but if you push yourself to hard this may result in injury!

The Two Wheeled Triumph

Whether the result of a health pursuit or an increased awareness of the impact of our carbon footprint it is not clear, but the popularity of cycling is rising rapidly. Due to the economic decline over the last decade, bicycles are now outselling cars in many countries particularly in Europe. Cycling is the most practised sport in the Czech Republic, second most popular to football, and this is not unusual; Holland, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands are also home to rising numbers of keen cyclists. However the reasons for this cannot just be ascribed to the financial pressures of global recession as the quest for a healthier lifestyle, advanced bike technology, government encouraged cycling schemes and safer road systems are all additional contributory factors.

The promotion of cycling has been highly successful with vast numbers now taking to the pedal as their modal form of transport. Its flexibility and relative inexpensiveness in comparison to the running costs of a car has seen the ‘bike boom’, for example in Groningen, a city in the Netherlands with a population of just under 200,000, there are 375,000 bicycles enabling 50% of all trips made. There has also been expansion in the market for cycling holidays which now caters for most demands, albeit a scenic coastal route along quiet country lanes, or something more extreme, such as mountain biking abroad in the Alps or in Canada. More and more professional tour operators are emerging to compete with specialist cycle touring companies as well as hotel chains that also offer comprehensive cycling packages.

The bike boom however raises questions of personal accident insurance as well as cover for your bike as the top of the range bicycles can now be purchased for up to thousands of pounds and in the UK one bike is stolen every minute! Although not considered to be a dangerous sport, precautions should be taken when cycling particularly as injury can easily be sustained through the carelessness of others. Conversely, it is also acknowledged that cyclists can themselves cause injury to others thus stressing the importance of having a comprehensive insurance policy whether you are a regular cyclist at home or just wanting cover for a 2 week cycling holiday. General travel insurance providers differ with regards to whether they offer personal liability cover related to bicycle use which is why more and more people are turning towards specialist insurance providers with cover geared towards their cycling intentions. No matter which type of cycling you choose to do, SportsCover Direct can offer you a policy tailored to your needs. From road cycling to cycle touring to downhill mountain biking, our policies will cover those insured for medical expenses, repatriation and where required, baggage and personal effects along with various other benefits.

To find out more about cycling insurance at home, follow this link: https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/insurance/cycling_insurance.html/

To find out more about travel insurance for a cycling holiday, follow this link: https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/sports-travel-insurance/

Rafael Nadal

Have you followed Rafael Nadal’s superb resurgence following his return from crippling injury? With a return of 9 titles from 11 finals and a record of 53-3 this year he has been unstoppable since his comeback from injury, due to recurring tendonitis. His most recent Cincinnati title means he has now won consecutive titles on the hard courts, and by beating top 10 players in the process he is truly dominating the game. However it hasn’t all been plain sailing as he had to leave the tour towards the end of last season to nurse his tricky knees back to full health; yet we are certain that he will have been covered with sports insurance in preparation of any treatment he may need!

Spanish Court Ruling Threatens EHIC

A recent court ruling in Spain could mean that European travellers’ right to healthcare is in jeopardy.  But do we really understand the EHIC?

Since 2010, the European Commission has been in contact with the Spanish authorities over some of its hospitals’ refusal to accept the EHIC to cover medical treatment.  Foreigners requiring treatment in Spain have been wrongly informed that their EHIC is not valid if they have travel insurance.  They have therefore been denied public healthcare and offered only private treatment, the cost of which is being passed on to their insurers or the patients themselves. 

A recent legal case in Madrid also saw a British insurance firm lose out to the administrator of Spanish public hospitals.  The insurer was found to be liable to pay for the treatment given to its policy holders in public hospitals, as according to the judge: “even when a patient is covered by social security, the private insurance policy that covers the treatment is liable for payment.”

This ruling was made under Spanish law, but it appears to contravene an EU Directive that grants EHIC holders the same medical rights as local people.  Whether or not the European Commission will pursue this case remains to be seen, but it does throw light onto the sometimes confusing status of the EHIC.

So what is the function of the EHIC?  Many people aren’t quite sure.  According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 17% of travellers assume they don’t need insurance for travelling in Europe because they have an EHIC.  But all members of the scheme should be aware that the EHIC only covers medically necessary care in state facilities.  It doesn’t cover costs such as repatriation to the UK in the event of a medical emergency, or even guarantee free treatment.  It simply grants its holders the same access to healthcare as would be received by local people.  The EHIC is therefore not an alternative to taking out travel insurance when journeying in Europe.

SportsCover Direct provides a range of travel insurance packages designed to cover active holidays and competitive sport abroad.  Doing sport significantly increases the risk of injury and the likelihood of requiring medical attention whilst abroad, so travellers should thoroughly research their insurance to make sure they are fully covered for their chosen activity.   

About SportsCover Direct:

SportsCover Direct Ltd offers specialist sports insurance to UK residents.  The company is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Contact:

Andy Brownsell
Belmont House
High Street
Lane End
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP14 3ER

0845 120 6400
press@sportscoverdirect.co.uk

www.sportscoverdirect.com

What Exactly Was It That Caused The Tyre Chaos At Silverstone

There has been a huge amount of speculation regarding the cause of the five tyre blowouts we saw during the British Grand Prix! (Six if you include Sergio Perez’s blowout in practice). Have a read of the Telegraph Sport to find out more about the possible causes.http://ow.ly/mCZsH

Wimbledon You Tube Channel

If you are into your tennis and missed Andy Murray's fantastic win at the weekend we strongly recommend you check out the Wimbledon You Tube channel! The Wimbledon You Tube Channel is the destination for everything that happens at The All England Lawn Tennis Club (Championships). So it's the perfect place for you to catch up on everything you missed!

The channel will bring you up to date with all of the latest news, and has interviews with your favorite players such as Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. They also provide you with special features, including live coverage, and behind the scenes video footage, which will show you what really happened both on and off the courts this summer!
http://www.youtube.com/user/Wimbledon/featured

Insurance for Events

If you are organising an event on a tight budget, you may think that having to pay out for insurance is an extra expense that is unnecessary, but if a participant or a member of the watching crowd sustains an injury, whilst at your event and you have no insurance in place, the money raised through the event may well be swallowed up with medical bills, compensation charges and long drawn out court cases.

While we all would want to avoid injuries and accidents, insurance is there because unfortunately, statistically someone, somewhere, somehow will become injured through playing sport, or being a spectator at a sporting event. 

Having the correct insurance in place for your event will enable you to take care of the problem without serious stress or financial impact on your team or sporting venue. Investing a small amount of money in the correct insurance plan for your event will provide you with peace of mind and save you thousands of pounds should the unexpected happen.

With SportsCover Direct you have a wide range of policies on offer for events which can be tailored to suit your specific requirements, so you will be sure to find the right sports insurance to suit your particular needs. Visit https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/products to find out more about our insurance packages which have been created specifically for events.

How To Avoid Running Injuries

If you are a keen runner ensure you are protecting yourself from the most common running injuries. The most common running injuries are due to overuse, over training, improper shoes, or a biomechanical flaw in body structure and motion. The good news is that many running injuries can be prevented. Click on the Following link and find out how to keep yourself on the road and in good health! http://running.about.com/od/injuryprevention/ht/preventinjury.htm

Learn How To Roller Blade By Following These 9 Easy Steps

Are you getting board of your normal exercise routine? If so have you thought about trying roller blading? It’s a great sport for the summer, low cost and a great way to keep fit and stay in shape! Click on the following link and find out how to roller blade in just 9 Easy to follow Steps! http://www.wikihow.com/Rollerblade

Who watched the BIG fight on Saturday?

Whether you love him or hate him you can’t help but admire boxer Carl Froch’s hard work and dedication, he has worked tirelessly over the last 10 years taking part in 10 world title fights to become an overnight success!  You can read more about Carl Froch and his journey to success by visiting the following link   http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/steve-bunce-on-boxing-a-10year-journey-for-carl-froch-to-become-an-overnight-success-8633654.html

Watch Our Latest Video And Find Out More About Our Sports Insurance Packages

Golf Injuries

According to Dr Divot author of "Dr. Divot's Guide to Golf Injuries" the most common injury that a golfer is likely to encounter is back pain. The golf swing not to mention the hunched-over putting stance that golfers tend to get into puts great stress on the golfer's back, so it's not a huge surprise that back pain is the most common problem for golfers. To read more on Dr Divot’s guide to golf injuries and how to prevent them visithttp://www.doctordivotmd.com/ To find out how you can cover yourself and ensure your income is protected should you encounter an injury due to participating in golf visithttp://www.sportscoverdirect.com/

Want To Know More About Our Sports Top Up Insurance?

Then check out this great video!

FREE Buyers Guide To Sports Insurance!

Want to find out more about sports insurance? If so why not download our FREE Buyers Guide To Sports Insurance! Click on the following link to claim your FREE copy of this great ebook! http://www.sportscoverdirect.com/

Did you know that with our sports insurance plans you can get cover for 12 continuous months?

As long as you include the day you leave and the day you return we will provide you with the cover you need to take part in the activities you choose!