Insurance by the minute and by the hour? We tell you how they work, how much they cost and how to hire them

Although doctors generally recommend practicing some sport or doing any physical activity as a complement to maintaining good health, this does not mean that by following this suggestion you are not exposed to suffering an accident or mishap that could incapacitate you or perhaps even cause death.

Although taking the necessary precautions to minimize any risk that may cause harm is a golden rule, today technology allows people to insure themselves against certain unforeseen events that may occur while practicing certain sports, with the advantage that such coverage can be contracted for minutes or a few hours, depending on the activity that is usually performed.

To this end, easycancha, a platform through which people can rent spaces to practice sports, and MetLife Colombia, have sealed an alliance to offer the first 'Court Accident Insurance', which is designed to provide greater security and peace of mind to amateur athletes in Colombia.

The above, say the company executives, taking into account that there are more and more people practicing sports. "Fifty-one percent of the population has incorporated regular physical activity into their routines, according to a study by Bain & Company," they mention.

The novelty of this policy is that this insurance can be contracted from a minimum time of 30 minutes to the hours that the person considers necessary, depending on their sports practice, which helps to minimize its cost, since its prices vary from 450 to 3,600 pesos.

According to company spokespersons, this initiative marks a milestone in the country, by introducing the first voluntary personal accident insurance on demand, a model that allows coverage to be activated only when needed. Its cost varies depending on the time and number of people insured, making it a very economical, easy, fast and flexible alternative for athletes, they say.

The insurance covers common sports injuries resulting from sports practice and is adjusted to the time of use of the courts reserved through the platform. These include fractures, serious burns, hospitalization and even serious accidents with risk of death. It is a flexible and economical option, adapted to the needs of amateur athletes in Colombia.

Carlos Mitnik, president of MetLife in Colombia, commented that, through this alliance, we seek to offer a solution that meets the needs of athletes, allowing them to enjoy their physical activity with the peace of mind of having a safety net in case of any unforeseen event.

"At MetLife, we are committed to innovation and the well-being of Colombians, understanding that sport plays a key role in health care; therefore, we work to take care of those who take care of themselves, protecting their health and peace of mind," he said.

easycancha is present in more than 11 countries, including Chile, its country of origin, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico and the United States, where more than 750 sports clubs are registered, which to date have accumulated more than 18 million reservations and 1.6 million users since its creation in 2017.

According to figures from the organization, in Colombia it has 150 active clubs and around 80,000 users. In 2024, it closed with nearly 900,000 sports reservations, equivalent to more than 23,000 dollars, about 94 million pesos.

The club's directors pointed out that "the main interest is to keep users safe on the playing fields, since the clubs understand the value of the health of their athletes on the sports field, since they are not exempt from incurring in accidents."

They added that they want users to invest in their physical and mental health with the help of easycancha and hope that users take advantage of the opportunity for only 450 pesos, depending on the plan chosen, being able to insure all players or just one person, without cumbersome processes, since this is contracted through the same application.

Daniel Baytelman, General Manager of easycancha, said that they wanted to replicate the accident insurance system that had already been applied in Chile. “We want to continue innovating in the sports industry, and continue leading in the management of sports facilities in Colombia, that is why we trust MetLife and we are sure that our community will also appreciate this extra for their protection,” he said.