Post 117, 5,028 views as of this instant...
I hesitated even starting this thread, as I hate to give these cranks a measure of credibility, you can read what they sent... smells like nagative campaign ads... they're attacking DAN on arguably true yet irrelevant grounds. Hey... it's an insurance company with a cute flag- were you expecting your Uncle Wally? Maybe the kindly chamber ops should make their financial records available as well? This is hooliganism.
That being said- here's the latest pile of hot steaming e-mail (as of 1730 hrs CST 9 March 2006):
From: SSS Network <communications@sssnetwork.com> Save Address Reminder
To: RoatanMan
Subject: More Recompression Chambers Stop Accepting DAN America's Insurance
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 23:26:02 +0000
For Immediate Release
EFFECTIVE MARCH 9, 2006, AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, DAN America dive insurance is
no longer accepted for payment at hyperbaric chambers in following dive
destinations:
Bahamas
Baja California
Belize
Cancun
Cozumel
Galapagos
Phuket, Thailand
Playa del Carmen
Samui, Thailand
Yucatan, Mexico
All divers carrying DAN America dive insurance and diving in these locations
should be prepared to pay out-of-pocket for any medical service rendered,
because these chambers will not accept DAN America’s insurance or DAN America’s
credit card as a method of payment. Hyperbaric chambers in other locations are
currently considering joining this group and not accepting DAN America
insurance.
This consortium of chambers has been forced to sue DAN America in federal court
in the United States due to unpaid medical claims, some dating as far back as
2004. The financial burden of not being paid has forced several chambers in
remote locations to consider closing down. In order to remain open, these chambers can no longer treat DAN America patients and not
be paid.
Of note, while DAN America is a non-profit research organization based in the
US, its insurance product is underwritten/re-insured by a for-profit
organization that is wholly-owned by DAN America called Accident & General
Insurance Ltd., based in the Cayman Islands. DAN America has claimed a rate
dispute as the reason for non-payment, saying that the rates are above what DAN
America considers reasonable and customary in the locality. However, major
medical insurers (including Blue Cross Blue
Shield, Humana, Prudential and Kaiser Permanente), DAN Europe, DAN Southern
Africa, DAN SEAP as well as all other dive insurers have accepted these same
rates as appropriate and paid their bills.
This action only applies to DAN America insurance and not any other insurance
coverage including DAN Europe, DAN Southern Africa, DAN Japan or DAN SEAP.
For further information regarding DAN America’s for-profit subsidiaries, please see the last 5 pages of their latest IRS tax filing here:
http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2004/561/696/2004-561696689-1-9.pdf
For further information regarding DAN America’s performance as a non-profit
organization, please see the report from Charity Navigator, an independent
evaluator of non-profits, who gives DAN America an overall rating of one out of
four stars:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6487.htm
For further information, please contact
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Date: 9 Mar 2006 17:26:01 -0600
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To: RoatanMan
Subject: More Recompression Chambers Stop Accepting DAN America's Insurance
From: SSS Network <communications@sssnetwork.com>
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