Merkur Versicherung now providing insurance on Austria’s ski slopes

Graz, 12th December 2003 New: "SKI-WELL" daily insurance from the ski-lift till

Merkur Versicherung is starting the skiing season with a new service. It is a new kind of winter-sports insurance for all skiers on Austrian pistes. The insurance can be taken out on a daily basis at the ski-lift till. It is being sold by Merkur Versicherung for the first time and exclusively in Austria and is now available in the regions of Kreischberg and Riesneralm for the sports of skiing, snowboarding, bobsleighing and cross-country skiing. It is planned to extend the service to other skiing regions. "SKI-WELL" costs EUR 2,90 per day for adults and EUR 1,90 for children or EUR 14,90 or EUR 9,90 for a week.

"SKI-WELL" covers the search, recovery and helicopter costs after an accident up to a sum of EUR 20.000 and provides a liability for damage to people, property and financial loss up to EUR 750.000 The new service range also includes legal protection against Austrian courts of up to EUR 30.000.

Eight million skiers and snowboarders enjoy Austria�'s slopes every year. Together, they experience around 90.000 accidents per year. Almost 67.000 people are injured so seriously that they need to be cared for in hospital. Most winter sportsmen do not know, however, that in addition to the impairment of health suffered, very high costs can often arise for the people affected.

"With the new service range, we are offering all winter sportsmen on Austria�'s slopes the possibility of taking out insurance cover at short notice and unbureaucratically," emphasises Alois Sundl, General Director of Merkur Versicherung.

"SKI-WELL" from Merkur Versicherung is now available at lift tills in the skiing regions Kreischberg and Riesneralm and in the young people�'s and family guesthouses in Schladming, Kaprun, St. Sebastian/ Mariazell and St. Michael in Lungau. It includes the fields of skiing, snowboarding, bobsleighing and cross-country skiing. The insurance protection starts with the issuing of the ski pass (day or week ticket) and ends on the 24th hour of the last day upon which the ski-pass is still valid.

A free emergency number is available on 0800/ 20 44 50 to everyone covered by "SKI-WELL", accepting loss reports in German and English 24 hours a day.