DCI Treatment Costs and Insurance

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Nettie-NZ

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I’m just about to renew my dive insurance for the next 12 months and I thought it might be a good time to reality check a few things.
I’m going to be diving in North America in the next few months and other than knowing that decompression chamber and medical costs are ALOT more expensive than where I live, I’ve got no idea of what the costs could be.
For the purposes of doing a sanity check on the level of cover I should get - roughly what do USA decompression chamber costs run to? I’m not going to be doing any tech diving - strictly recreational, staying within the no decompression limits.

Thanks!
 
Renew your insurance. In fact, get the best coverage you can. Strictly recreational, staying within the no decompression limits does not mean zero possibility/risk of DCS. See "couple detained in Cozumel until chamber bill paid" and numerous other threads regarding DCS and chamber rides. Have a great trip.
 
Thanks. Cool - definitely renewing my insurance - that’s a given.

Just trying to work out what level of cover I really need.
 
I have DAN Guardian. Last year I had to use it for a nondiving related injury while on vacation. Was very grateful I had upgraded to that coverage.

As far as cost for chamber rides in the states, I am not sure. I see in the Cozumel Forum it can be quite expensive.
 
Thanks. Cool - definitely renewing my insurance - that’s a given.

Just trying to work out what level of cover I really need.
for the smallish extra cost i got premium
 
You might need to specifically tell the insurer that you intend to dive in the USA.

I know my DAN excludes the USA. There is an additional fee to be covered in the USA. I can have worldwide cover EXCEPT the USA - which tells you something about the USA.
Similarly, my employer has specialist medical and liability insurance for employees. Worldwide cover except the USA. We have to pay an additional fee for the cover to be extended to the USA.
 
I have DAN sport silver. Even though i do not need it at home
 
I’m just about to renew my dive insurance for the next 12 months and I thought it might be a good time to reality check a few things.
I’m going to be diving in North America in the next few months and other than knowing that decompression chamber and medical costs are ALOT more expensive than where I live, I’ve got no idea of what the costs could be.
For the purposes of doing a sanity check on the level of cover I should get - roughly what do USA decompression chamber costs run to? I’m not going to be doing any tech diving - strictly recreational, staying within the no decompression limits.

Thanks!
Back when I was on volunteer crew (2006-07) at the Catalina Chamber, a basic Table 6 Treatment cost was around 3k to 4k US Dollars, plus another $10k or so if US Coast Guard or LA County Sheriff's helicopter medevac is required to deliver you to the facility.

Here in Southern California -and only in Southern California- the Catalina Recompression Chamber is run by the local civilian municipal government Emergency Medical Service Department of Los Angeles County, and therefore will always treat any diving casualty 24/7 regardless whether the patient has medical insurance or DAN accident coverage, or even the ability to pay -or not. . .

Home > USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
 
It’s not the chamber cost you need to be concerned with. It’s the helicopter bill. $5,000 just to start the engine and expect a total chopper bill of near $50,000. Yes 4 zeroes. Been there and got the bill.
 

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