DAN membership without the optional insurance?

[bradlw]

sort of related to the "DAN is a PITA" thread
but rather get into the negative on that thread I thought I'd post my question separately. Mine is just a search for understanding...not a complaint.

I'm in a similar situation as the OP in that other thread......many years ago I had DAN membership and don't remember needing supplemental insurance. The basic memberships covered stuff as I recall, and I thought that it also covered some diving related medical coverage too...not just transport. Maybe I'm wrong about that and maybe I did pay extra but it was just cheap enough for me alone taht I didn't give it much thought.

SO now I'm looking at getting a family policy
and I'm confused.
I'll plan on calling DAN next week to ask.... but I thought I'd probably get an answer here faster.

My understanding is that with membership only we'd get transportation coverage, access to a medical help line, and a few other things but zero coverage for medical treatment

I guess at the root of it, I need to look at my employer-provided medical policy to see if chamber rides are covered...to determine if I need to spend $48.25 x 5 people (or more?) ...or if I even really need a DAN membership at all!
It's not a good coverage that I have through work. Covers in my state of FL and then emergency only out of the state
but unless we plan a cruise next year it's not likely that we'll dive out of the state anyway

But I'm still a little confused about DAN

This matrix for example, tells me that if I get the Enhanced membership we'll get search and rescue coverage as an example

but digging into the following pages showing the insurance, it looks like I'd have to pay for the Guardian plan to get that

 

[TNEngineer]

We recently did our annual renewal and we were just as confused as you. Ultimately we ended up buying the annual travel insurance for the first time this year because we're doing a lot of traveling and it's less expensive to buy a single policy from DAN, that covers all trips including non-diving, than the piecemeal insurance for every trip.

We didn't used to bother with trip insurance but as we do more overseas and with the present political instability everywhere, it seems increasingly wise.

 

[tursiops]

Yes, call DAN. You will likely get all kinds of misinformation on SB.

I'm in a similar situation as the OP in that other thread......many years ago I had DAN membership and don't remember needing supplemental insurance. The basic memberships covered stuff as I recall, and I thought that it also covered some diving related medical coverage too...not just transport. Maybe I'm wrong about that and maybe I did pay extra but it was just cheap enough for me alone taht I didn't give it much thought.

Best to ignore what you "remember," things have changed, and you may not be remembering correctly anyway.

My understanding is that with membership only we'd get transportation coverage, access to a medical help line, and a few other things but zero coverage for medical treatment

Correct. Also, you must be more than 50 miles from home:

Up to US$500,000 Emergency​

Up to US$500,000 Emergency Medical Transportation & Travel Assistance Benefits for diving and nondiving medical emergencies any time an Insured Member travels more than 50 miles from home.​

This matrix for example, tells me that if I get the Enhanced membership we'll get search and rescue coverage as an example

Yes.

but digging into the following pages showing the insurance, it looks like I'd have to pay for the Guardian plan to get that

No, it is in the Accident insurance because not everyone gets the enhanced insurance. the advantage in the Accident insurance is that you no longer have to be more than 50 miles from home. I think; ask DAN for sure.

Do note carefully that the dive Accident Insurance -- at any level -- if intended for dive accidents; it is NOT for general medical coverage.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I'm in a similar situation as the OP in that other thread......many years ago I had DAN membership and don't remember needing supplemental insurance. The basic memberships covered stuff as I recall, and I thought that it also covered some diving related medical coverage too...not just transport. Maybe I'm wrong about that and maybe I did pay extra but it was just cheap enough for me alone taht I didn't give it much thought.

You are remembering incorrectly I believe. I have my DAN renewal invoices going back to 2006. Accident Insurance has always been optional and has been an addition on top of membership. The cost has certainly gone up, but what insurance hasn’t?!

 

[ibj40]

Also, if you are in the United States, doesn’t the coverage vary based on what state you live in?

 

[bradlw]

I have my DAN renewal invoices going back to 2006.

I'm going back a good bit further than that...but yeah, it probably hasn't changed....
probably just the sting of paying it x5 people!