Your favourite low-cost winter sky destination may not come in cheaper after all - ultimately it could be about medical bills.

And the recently introduced European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may not be the answer either. In fact in the wrong country it could let you down with more than a bump.

Broken legs are the most common injuries on the slopes, but where the accident takes place can make a huge difference to the medical bill, according to new research released today.

The USA is by far the most expensive ski destination to fracture a leg, setting uninsured ski enthusiasts back a whopping £20,000, while in Canada it comes to £13,000.

In Europe Switzerland comes out top. Breaking a leg there will cost around £6,000. Meanwhile a broken leg in Italy, where the 2006 Winter Olympics are currently taking place, comes in at £4,000.

Norwich Union has compiled a list of the top five most expensive winter sports destinations for injuries such as broken legs:

Dawn McMullan, travel product manager, at Norwich Union said: "With all eyes on the Turin Winter Olympics, there's an increased interest in winter sports and people should remember to take out travel insurance with winter sports optional cover before hitting the slopes."

While other favourite ski destinations can come in cheaper, ultimately, says Norwich Union, it's not just about the medical bills. Ms McMullan added: "People want peace of mind when they're on holiday - they need to know that they'll be looked after in case of an accident."

"If you do happen to break a leg or incur any other sort of injury, it's stressful enough having to go to hospital, worry about your health and change all your holiday plans without having to think about the financial aspect of your injury."

Ski enthusiasts travelling to the slopes of the EU can now benefit from the recently introduced European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but Norwich Union advises caution to holidaymakers who rely on it to cover them for an accident.

"People should bear in mind that the level of cover provided by the EHIC card depends on the country visited and may not cover all treatment costs and services like mountain rescue and repatriation. The EHIC should be seen as complementary to travel insurance, not as an alternative", said Ms McMullan.

And while the Olympic athletes in Turin will no doubt make it down the pistes without too many problems, uninsured ski enthusiasts could expect to pay a fair amount for injuries on the slopes of Italy, as the following table compiled by Norwich Union shows: