Cozumel chamber and DAN

[El Orans]

From the DAN Europe site:

NOTIFICATION REGARDING DAN AMERICA INSURANCE AND RECOMPRESSION TREATMENT

Many of you may have read about a recent series of press releases concerning DAN insurance for recompression services and an ongoing dispute between DAN America and one of the large, international chamber network operators – SubAquatic Safety Services (SSS).

We want to assure you, that this problem only relates to DAN America.

DAN Europe insurance is not adversely affected in any way nor is the good relationship we have with this international chamber network operator.

The same is true for DAN Southern Africa, DAN South East Asia Pacific and DAN Japan.

As many of us already know from personal experience with medical aids and medical insurance companies, the issue of treatment costs is constantly being debated.

However, DAN Europe sought to engage this chamber operator in a series of negotiations several years back, and we have a sensible and realistic agreement with them that is respected by both parties.

Unfortunately DAN America has not achieved this level of agreement and what you have read is the consequence of this problem.

It is actively being addressed and should be resolved within the next two months.

Importantly, DAN Europe members can be confident that your insurance is fully accepted by the SSS Network, its affiliates, and in fact all treatment centers we have worked with over the past 10 years of serving our members. It is only DAN America members that have been issued with the cautionary notification.

Yours Sincerely,

Alessandro Marroni, MD
President & CEO - DAN Europe
President, International DAN

https://www.daneurope.org/daninfo/info.htm

 

[HammerNoMore]

The other chambers listed as not accepting DAN as of March 9 are NOT all Dr. Moreno's facilities.

My point is that Dr. Moreno claimed that these facilities would not accept DAN insurance in his Janurary spam mailing and it was simply untrue. His first email was titled "Recompression Chamber Network To Stop Accepting DAN Insurance." The truth was "Dr. Moreno To Stop Accepting DAN Insurance". This is one guy running a smear campaign.

As long as Doctors continue to over charge for services, insurance companies will continue to impose reasonable and customary caps. I'm looking at a claim right now where the doctor charged $80 and the insurance company paid him $7. I've never seen BCBS pay a doctor what they ask. This means that the only people paying overinflated medical rates are the uninsured.

Dr. Moreno claims he is suing DAN and good for him, if he feels the DAN insurance is not paying enough, he should. However, by spamming his smear campaign and refusing to treat patients in an emergency, he has made his position very clear: money and vengence over heath.

It is the view of Mr. Moreno that reasonable and customary means what the chamber charges, even if the charges are significantly higher than charges of other similar chambers. One major international insurance company previously withdrew coverage altogether due to these high charges. Having been sued by Mr. Moreno, DAN is now forced to address this situation legally.

To ensure that the divers are not caught in the middle, effective immediately, DAN's insurer will coordinate with the SSS chambers in Nassau, Cabo San Lucas or Cancun to cover all treatment charges.
When the injured DAN member or their representative contacts DAN using the diving emergency hotline, DAN will liaise with the chamber to arrange immediate payment. DAN will continue to do so until there has been a resolution to this dispute. Rest assured, DAN continues to seek an amicable resolution.

Yes, DAN will still cover the claims once you've paid for them out of pocket...but how many people really have an extra $15 to $20K lying around while they wait for DAN to reimburse them?

No until this dispute is settled, DAN will make immediate payments to these chambers per their press release....i.e. you are still covered. I've never seen any insurance company support its members in this way before.

No need for mass hysteria over this...but I DO thnk that DAN needs to start playing more fairly.

Exactly, Dr. Moreno is hoping for exactly that, mass hysteria. Which is why he's mass emailing his over hyped message. I hope that through settelement or litigation that these two come to an agreement but the one trying to win his case in the press and by spamming comes off very sleasy to me.

James

 

[cowboyneal]

Hear, hear....

 

[DandyDon]

Lot's of good posts here, and - thank god we have SB to discuss and examine this challenge, but I really like these last two from another thread...

I just renewed our DAN coverage with full confidence. DAN has responded in several places around the net that they will cover everyone regardless. They'll forward money to you or send it directly to your credit card...whatever it takes to get you treated.

And BTW.....the owner of the chambers that is causing all the problems has even stated that do one will be left on the sidewalk untreated.

To many dramatics for me. I'll go with the reputation I know. DAN has always stood by it's divers and I have no doubt they will continue to do so. My money gladly went back to DAN this year.

If you have a problem.....Who ya gonna call?? PADI?? Dive Assure???

DAN is the place. Period.

 

[mudhole]

OK, I'll offer myself up for you to gang up on. . . I've been contributing to DAN since they were a government sponsored research. And yes, they have done a lot of good. University level studies have greatly advanced divers knowledge. I've found their insurance part of DAN to happily take my money, and like other insurance companies, I've never had a claim.They're all friendly when you're paying!

There have been several thoughtful messages from people who had to "pull teeth" while frightened with bends symptoms. DAN has said NO when an injured person was in pain. Later they have backed down and kept their promises. The people who had to wait for what they paid for. . . with fear of being left alone, are telling the rest of us their experience. Please don't attack some nice people offering their experience.

I like what DAN has done many years ago. TODAY. . . Business managers sometimes think of profit before they take care of Divers in trouble.

 

[HammerNoMore]

Nobody's attacking anyone here. Christy has been personally involved in a case with DAN. It was resolved in the end but I'm sure it's left a bad taste in her mouth. I had a bad experience with KP once and you''d be hard pressed to get me to say anything nice about them.

Insurance companies are in the business to make profit and there are a lot of people out there who will stick it to them whenever they can. They have to take measures to protect themselves. $25 a year buys you free chamber rides...every dollar they overpay costs us all.

Is DAN insurance the best? Maybe, maybe not. DAN doesn't actually insure anyone, they have another company do that and wether it's the best or not is a matter of opinion.

What I know is that by buying my insurance through DAN, I'm helping to fund research that makes diving safer for me, a call center where I can get questions answered by a doctor for free, and some great training. Without DAN you'd be hard pressed to find a boat with O2 onboard and even harder pressed to find someone trained to use it.

That's why I like DAN. And why I want to make sure that people understand that insurance is a business intended to make a profit, not an evil empire coniving to take advantage of the consumer.

Christy wants to make sure people know that their DAN insurance is not necissarly a guarantee of treatment. That's a good thing too, it's iimportant to have educated consumers. Topics like this are great because, no matter what, some people come out of it knowing a little more than they did. I wonder how many people viewed this thread or others like it and pulled out their policy to read the fine print? If it's just one it is well worth it.

James

 

[Gdog]

Thanks for the eye openers on both sides of this issue...This does what it should, and that is make divers aware that they cannot blindly trust some "entity" to take care of them. A bit of research and precaucion....(sp)....would always be prudent for any dive trip.

 

[HammerNoMore]

Thanks for the eye openers on both sides of this issue...This does what it should, and that is make divers aware that they cannot blindly trust some "entity" to take care of them. A bit of research and precaucion....(sp)....would always be prudent for any dive trip.

Exactly...note that even with DAN or any other insurance, in some locals you will have to pay upfront for treatment. In the US we expect that emergency treament comes first and how to pay for it comes second. In other parts of the world, that is not a given.

James

 

[Christi]

OK, I'll offer myself up for you to gang up on. . . I've been contributing to DAN since they were a government sponsored research. And yes, they have done a lot of good. University level studies have greatly advanced divers knowledge. I've found their insurance part of DAN to happily take my money, and like other insurance companies, I've never had a claim.They're all friendly when you're paying!

There have been several thoughtful messages from people who had to "pull teeth" while frightened with bends symptoms. DAN has said NO when an injured person was in pain. Later they have backed down and kept their promises. The people who had to wait for what they paid for. . . with fear of being left alone, are telling the rest of us their experience. Please don't attack some nice people offering their experience.

I like what DAN has done many years ago. TODAY. . . Business managers sometimes think of profit before they take care of Divers in trouble.

I assume you were coming to my defense here, and I do appreciate that. However, I didn't feel attacked at all and actually, I can respect all opinions on this issue. It is a highly debatable subject and some of us are very passionate about our views on the topic...on both sides.

In many ways, I actually agree with James. For instance, I don't like SSI's method here to make their point, and certain Dr.'s in Cozumel for example, have given all hyperbaric Dr.'s a bad name. As a result, DAN has questioned treatments and billing for the past several years. I cannot say I blame them, just like every business...if they don't watch the bottom line, there won't be one. BUT...the point I've been trying to make...and apparently not ery clearly...is that there ARE some reputable, qualified Dr.'s in Cozumel who still accept DAN, even though they have billing problems with DAN. I also know that Dr. Piccolo would never refuse treatment to someone who needed it, regardless of what is going on with DAN.

OK...WAY past my bedtime

Sweet dreams and play nice

 

[Christi]

Exactly...note that even with DAN or any other insurance, in some locals you will have to pay upfront for treatment. In the US we expect that emergency treament comes first and how to pay for it comes second. In other parts of the world, that is not a given.

James

YES, can't believe I haven't brought this up...I guess I thought it was a given that people knew this The Chambers/hospitals in Mexico (or anywhere else) are not obligated to file your claim for you...it is a service and a courtesy if they do...just like with any other insurance.