Never had to use it and hope I never do but it's great piece of mind plus the other benefits DandyDon mentioned. Some places actually require DAN Insurance (or equivalent) that I've dived.
DAN membership?
- Thread starter matthewjen
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Agreed - don't dive naked, which is what you do when you're diving without diving insurance!
DAN actually has a great comparison chart of their plans on the web page:
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/compare.asp
Whatever you do, I would recommend either the master or preferred plan - the standard plan has too many restrictions on it and just isn't worth it.
As someone who has taken a serious DCS hit in the past (2002) - I cannot recommend DAN enough - I had the preferred plan and I was not out a single penny after nine long chamber rides over the Christmas and New Years holidays (other than the wages lost while I couldn't dive).
As someone else said, run, don't walk to your computer and become a member of DAN and get the insurance today!
Also - make sure you understand that simply becoming a DAN member ($35/yr) will not insure you - you also have to purchase an insurance plan.
DAN actually has a great comparison chart of their plans on the web page:
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/compare.asp
Whatever you do, I would recommend either the master or preferred plan - the standard plan has too many restrictions on it and just isn't worth it.
As someone who has taken a serious DCS hit in the past (2002) - I cannot recommend DAN enough - I had the preferred plan and I was not out a single penny after nine long chamber rides over the Christmas and New Years holidays (other than the wages lost while I couldn't dive).
As someone else said, run, don't walk to your computer and become a member of DAN and get the insurance today!
Also - make sure you understand that simply becoming a DAN member ($35/yr) will not insure you - you also have to purchase an insurance plan.
miked
Contributor
This question comes up frequently enough that I have kept the following post on my computer, ready to be copied when the topic comes up:
My experience with DAN insurance:
I have had to use my DAN insurance, I have the Preferred plan) and was very pleased with the entire process.
Be aware that the DAN insurance policy is a "secondary insurance". That is, it "kicks in" after your regular health insurance has paid for what ever it ( the primary) covers.
In 2004, I had an incident of DCS2 while in Grand Cayman. I had to pay, by credit card, both the hospital fees and the separate chamber fee. Neither accepted insurance. I'm not sure if that policy applies in all hospitals/chambers or just the one I happen to be at. We were in contact with the folks at DAN-insurance and otherwise-and both were great. They were very concerned and supportive.
When I arrived home I filed papers with my primary health insurance carrier.
They paid the majority of the medical bills, including $15,000 worth of "chamber rides".
(I have been told by other divers that DAN would pay for these costs even if my primary did not.)
After receiving that payment, I submitted uncovered bills, etc., to the DAN insurance people (The actual policy was from an insurance company who has an agreement with DAN). The paperwork seemed less noxious than typical insurance paperwork, and the service was very good.
That policy reimbursed me for:
Some medical costs not covered by my primary insurance carrier.
The cost of two plane tickets home, when we could not reschedule on our original airline.
The cost of shipping the home all our luggage, including dive gear, as I had written orders from the doctor to not carry, drag, or lift anything for two week period.
Most of the cost of three additional nights stay at the hotel, also the result of written orders from the doctor. The three days were required for more medical treatment, and to get medically cleared to fly.
The reimbursement for these items totaled approximately $2700.
As a result of this experience, I would never be without the DAN insurance.
I give that product my highest endorsement, while hoping you never have to use it.
Good luck,
Mike
My experience with DAN insurance:
I have had to use my DAN insurance, I have the Preferred plan) and was very pleased with the entire process.
Be aware that the DAN insurance policy is a "secondary insurance". That is, it "kicks in" after your regular health insurance has paid for what ever it ( the primary) covers.
In 2004, I had an incident of DCS2 while in Grand Cayman. I had to pay, by credit card, both the hospital fees and the separate chamber fee. Neither accepted insurance. I'm not sure if that policy applies in all hospitals/chambers or just the one I happen to be at. We were in contact with the folks at DAN-insurance and otherwise-and both were great. They were very concerned and supportive.
When I arrived home I filed papers with my primary health insurance carrier.
They paid the majority of the medical bills, including $15,000 worth of "chamber rides".
(I have been told by other divers that DAN would pay for these costs even if my primary did not.)
After receiving that payment, I submitted uncovered bills, etc., to the DAN insurance people (The actual policy was from an insurance company who has an agreement with DAN). The paperwork seemed less noxious than typical insurance paperwork, and the service was very good.
That policy reimbursed me for:
Some medical costs not covered by my primary insurance carrier.
The cost of two plane tickets home, when we could not reschedule on our original airline.
The cost of shipping the home all our luggage, including dive gear, as I had written orders from the doctor to not carry, drag, or lift anything for two week period.
Most of the cost of three additional nights stay at the hotel, also the result of written orders from the doctor. The three days were required for more medical treatment, and to get medically cleared to fly.
The reimbursement for these items totaled approximately $2700.
As a result of this experience, I would never be without the DAN insurance.
I give that product my highest endorsement, while hoping you never have to use it.
Good luck,
Mike
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Thanks Mike, but I have to ask...
DiveAssure's plans look good too, comparatively priced if you include the death coverage. Both warn that the coverage is not a guarantee accepted by all chambers world wide, but both will reimburse and I think both will send advance fees if needed.
The biggest coverage can sometimes come from the medical evac if needed to get to superior medical facilities.
Did you ask if DAN would advance the money and settle later? That can be done for the chambers that do not accept DAN coverage upfront. Some do, some don't - true, but money can be wired.
Especially if your primary didn't is the key point, and many will not cover scuba injuries and/or outside of US costs. You have better coverage than many.
Yeah, DAN actually provides dive insurance and TavelAssist coverages from other corporations in the insurance industry as organizing their own company would be next to impossible. It works. Paperwork is always a drag, I know.
DiveAssure's plans look good too, comparatively priced if you include the death coverage. Both warn that the coverage is not a guarantee accepted by all chambers world wide, but both will reimburse and I think both will send advance fees if needed.
The biggest coverage can sometimes come from the medical evac if needed to get to superior medical facilities.
deborahdelamar
Contributor
I stand corrected -- clauses have changed related to non-dive accident medical expenses. (When was the last time I read our handbook?!) As Don said, the deductible is very low now and home-country coverage was eliminated. Still a good deal.
I don't have the DAN sponsored gear insurance, but we do have all our camera and dive equipment under a DEPP policy and have no complaints. My husband has made 2 claims on photo and video equipment over the years and both were smooth and painless. I know others who've collected on dive gear damage/loss also with no problems. I don't personally know anyone who currently has the equipment insurance offered through DAN.
pjhansman
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Confused me, as I didn't think the OP had his location on his post. You do, but you're not the OP.Sadly....yes. For some completely incomprehensible reason I just assumed our famous Canadian health care system would take care of things.....
Oh well, one is never too old to learn I suppose.
I think it will in Canadian waters, but Canadian divers who dive anywhere else outside of Canada usually get dive insurance - even for border waters where they might get hurt in US and go there for treatment. Did your Inst not cover this? Mine didn't say much but he did give us brochures.
Well that's what these discussions are good for huh?
diverken374
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That is a frequent problem encountered By Canadian's travelling out of the country.Sadly....yes. For some completely incomprehensible reason I just assumed our famous Canadian health care system would take care of things.....
Oh well, one is never too old to learn I suppose.
There used to be a token payment of $400 a day if ill outside of Canada but I am not sure that that exists anymore. Get good travel and dive insurance when travelling anywhere out of Canada.
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