Another DAN question...

[jk47]

I have mild asthma and think I should be examined by a diving-specialising physician (I am not having any problems I am aware of, but my primary care doctor I don't think is really aware of all of the issues here, and I would like a more thorough release). I contacted DAN but they seem to only cover actual incident related appointments...does anyone know if this is an accurate statement, or if there is a possibility of getting coverage for a checkout? I would imagine an appointment with a hyperbaric facility could get a little expensive without coverage.

Thanks in advance for any info, or additional suggestions as to how I might go about making sure I have been adequately 'approved'.

 

[J75]

I may not understand DAN's policys fully, but my understanding is that DAN won't cover doctor's visits unless it is the result of a diving emergency. The will help you find a diving-knowledgable physician in your area, but that's the full extent of it. DAN is basically emergency coverage that comes into play where your regular health insurance may fail (out of country coverage, air evacuation, chamber, etc.). For a non-emergency condition, DAN will refer you to a doctor, but you have to pay for the visit.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi jk47,

Neither DAN, nor any other dive accident policy, will pay for medical consultation or treatment that is not the result of a covered injury. In other words, it will not pay for the evaluation of conditions such as asthma simply because the affected diver wants to be checked out to make sure it's safe to scuba.

DAN will try to provide the diver with a referral to a local physician with appropriate diving medicine expertise, but there are no guarantees. Its referral base typically is pretty thin outside of major metropolitan areas, especially in the medical specialties.

If you and your primary care doctor wish to understand more about what is involved in properly clearing the asthmatic for scuba, you may find the following informative:

Can I Dive With Asthma?
http://www.awoosh.com/Doc Vikingo's Resource Page/Asthma_Updated.htm



Regards,

DocVikingo