Diveassure or DAN Insurance?

[farsidefan1]

I have always carried diveassure and finally used them for some chamber time last summer. They were fabulous. All expenses covered - no quibbling over costs etc. However they are quite pricey. Much more than the DAN coverage. My question is this, if I need them in some obscure place how well do they pay? and will they pay the entire bill? My primary concerns are medical and med evacuation if needed in some obscure corner of the globe (I mean that's where so much of the cool stuff is located). It is nice to have equipment coverage too but I don't care about life and disability. Got that covered.

Anyone had some experience with utilizing the DAN plan?

 

[miked]

Hi farsidefan,
Here is a copy of a post that describes my experience with DAN insurance.[ I have used this note several times as a reply when people have posted regarding DAN insurance.] It doesn't address all of your concerns, but it might be helpful:



I have had to use my DAN insurance, 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 since been told by other divers that the DAN policy-their top level one, would have covered those expenses, had my "primary" health insurance not done so.)
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

 

[D_B]

Thoughts ... DAN is a very worthwhile organization to belong to, no matter who's insurance you get .. and if you do get DAN Insurance, get it at the highest level offered

 

[farsidefan1]

Ahh, thank you! Now I understand the price difference. DAN is secondary insurance and diveassure is primary coverage. In Coz the chamber doc and folks asked for nothing. They said they would just bill Diveassure, nothing needed from me. Funny thing is that they also kept me in the hopital till my late afternoon chamber second session and the hospital would not take the insurance promise even though Doc Piccalo told them not to worry about it. I paid something like $200. which was immediately reimbursed by dive assure. I have pretty good base coverage but I'm not sure I want to pay ten or fifteen thousand out of pocket and wait to be reimbursed. Good info, Thanks. I understand now.

 

[miked]

Ahh, thank you! Now I understand the price difference. DAN is secondary insurance and diveassure is primary coverage. In Coz the chamber doc and folks asked for nothing. They said they would just bill Diveassure, nothing needed from me. Funny thing is that they also kept me in the hopital till my late afternoon chamber second session and the hospital would not take the insurance promise even though Doc Piccalo told them not to worry about it. I paid something like $200. which was immediately reimbursed by dive assure. I have pretty good base coverage but I'm not sure I want to pay ten or fifteen thousand out of pocket and wait to be reimbursed. Good info, Thanks. I understand now.

Not sure if this matters (and to clarify my earlier post), but the hospital/chamber that I was in accepted NO outside insurance-neither my primary nor the DAN policy.( I assume that if I had a Diveassure policy, that the situation would have been the same.)
I don't know what would occur if the hospital accepted insurance. I'd guess that, the primary would pay at checkout,and then you'd go through the paperwork to get bring the DAN policy into play.
The DAN policy covered things not covered by my primary, but I had to wait, do the paperwork for both when I got home.

BTW, the "DAN policy" is not run/funded directly by DAN, but through an insurance company that has an arrangement with DAN.

 

[cruiser]

For those of you who have Dive Assure, in the case of an accident at sea, who do you call for assistance? Who tells you where the nearest chamber is and how to get there and arranges for transportation? Do they authorize payment along the way?

I have DAN and of course they're my contact person. I just wondered who the Dive Assure contact person is, and do they have as many resources available as DAN?

 

[a22shady]

I have there top policy and it does cover alot of things other's would not. i have not had to use yet and hopfully never have to but in the even I did need it. It would be there

 

[diver 85]

If you're taking a poll, we(wife & I) have DAN----premium....

 

[DandyDon]

Ahh, thank you! Now I understand the price difference. DAN is secondary insurance and diveassure is primary coverage. In Coz the chamber doc and folks asked for nothing. They said they would just bill Diveassure, nothing needed from me. Funny thing is that they also kept me in the hopital till my late afternoon chamber second session and the hospital would not take the insurance promise even though Doc Piccalo told them not to worry about it. I paid something like $200. which was immediately reimbursed by dive assure. I have pretty good base coverage but I'm not sure I want to pay ten or fifteen thousand out of pocket and wait to be reimbursed. Good info, Thanks. I understand now.

It is common for a dive location clinic or chamber to simply bill your dive insurance carrier, and in many locations including Cozumel you are paying a local fee on each trip that supports the local chamber and guarantees that the chamber will accept your insurance. I suspect that not many realize this.

As far as primary vs secondary, so what. Send claims to both insurance providers with full bills along with the knowledge of the other and let them work out how much each will pay, even to each other. Do it the easy way.

Back to clinics and chambers accepting insurance, nothing is guaranteed without the above described agreement. My dive shop did not check on that for a Belize trip but I did, and talked them into including that. I do not know about Dive Assure but DAN can be asked to wire money for treatment if needed. (The trip insurance I use offers that too.)

Some people have claimed that Dive Assure will always be accepted instead of payment but that is malarkey. Go to www.diveassure.com/new/usa/diveassure_programs and click this link...

Read it there...

NOTE: Problems of distance, information and communication make it impossible for Travel Guard to assume any responsibility for the availability, quality, use or result of any emergency service. In all cases, you are still responsible for obtaining, using and paying for your own required services of all types.

Now, if you take the time to compare the plans & costs (hint, open two tabs), like Dive Assure, and live in one of the states or countries where it is offered - cool. Get it and join DAN as a member only.

 

[sierra23]

I have DAN premium and have had two claims. DAN was there on the phone IMMEDIATELY to assist. Payment was prompt and in full after my primary insurance first paid. They have DAN doctor referrals wherever you live. Doctors that are familiar with dive related medical issues. This is a good thing.