I appreciate your input as always, Dave. Your local insight is always helpful and you seem to always be on the ball, if not the leader.
I still wonder what you might know about the other chamber operations...?
As to the other question, Stateside Primary Insurance almost always will cover most any accident in Cozumel, even DCS hits as the primary insurer—but they are complete bastards about paying, coming up with all kinds of excuses and dragging it out. Then what they won't pay, DAN will but it takes someone like Heidi Piccolo to beat them into submission.
Whether a stateside medical coverage will apply in Mexico or not will vary. I know that mine would not, the main reason I also take Trip Insurance that includes good medical coverage. For non-diving risks, it would be prudent for each traveler to determine his/her actual coverage and possible needs. For dive accidents in particular, even some that will cover illness and surface accidents while in Mexico may have limits, restrictions, or exclusions for scuba activities - which is why dive insurance exists.
For DAN dive insurance claims, I have never heard of anyone having a problem at the other chamber. If they have occurred, I just haven't heard - and I have seen 4 divers emergency evacuated to it over the years. I had thought that Dr Piccolo's chamber was the one I'd heard require payments up front, but I may be confused - and would appreciate any clarifications, from anyone.
BTW, Memo asures me that Dive Assure is a beter deal than DAN. Don't know why but that is what he said...I just follow along!
An interesting comment. I am curious why Memo feels that way, from what observations or whatever? Dive Assure does seem to offer very good dive insurance, but as far as a
"better deal," I don't see it. I thought maybe that could be because Mexican citizens might get better coverage from DA than DAN Latin America as last I heard the DAN dive insurance coverage offered there was not great - but I don't think Dive Assure offers insurance there at all. DA does offer insurance in many countries, even Antarctica
but not there.
Back to coverage comparisons for US citizens coming there...
When I compare DAN vs DA dive insurance, I just don't see DA as a
"better deal." DA rates are difficult to check as you have to go complete a membership application just to get a quote, but I
think they offer the same rates regardless of age and state of residence.
If that is correct...
DAN's top Preferred plan plus membership costing $110/year vs DA's top Platinum plan at $119/year. With those top plans...
Dive Accident Coverage: DAN $250,000 per Occurrence vs DA $250,000 top plan
Extra Transportation: DAN $2,000 plus
Extra Accommodation: $3,000 vs DA $5,000 Flight/Accommodation combined top plan
Lost Diving Equipment, Resulting from a covered diving accident.
: DAN $2,500 vs DA $2,500 top plan
Diving Vacation Interruption:DAN $5,000 vs DA $1,000 top plan
And there are other aspects one might compare from
DAN's top plan here vs
DA's plans here as well as checking to see if I got all that right.
Overall, it looks like Dive Assure's top plan is similar to DAN's top plan, but DA's costs a bit more. DA makes a deal about being primary coverage vs DAN's being secondary, but that's just a marketing ploy to me as while how the dive insurance coverage might subrogate with personal medical coverage might vary some - they are still going to share the bills either way, with one's out of pocket being the same. Or in my case, with my medical coverage not good there - both of them would pay full benefits if I didn't take Trip insurance, or split the bills with my Trip insurance if I did.
Both DAN & DA have middle plans that are good. DAN's is $35/year less, DA's $20/year less, both with less coverage but should be treated as minimums. The bottom plans for both are just inadequate I think, and not that much cheaper.
Insure with either for sure, middle or top plan, don't dive without one or the other. So while I respect that Dive Assure's dive insurance is very good, DAN's is a better deal, to me. :cool2:
