Do I need DAN, please advise?

[CompuDude]

Unless you have a zero deductible policy that covers 100% of the charges, including all ancillary charges, I'd get the DAN insurance, or another dive-specific insurance such as DiveAssure or one of Vincente & Buckley's PADI plans. My instructor got an undeserved DCS hit a few years ago, and $50k in chamber in evac bills. His primary coverage covered most, but DAN picked up the $5k that would have come out of his pocket. He paid nothing up front... and he had their cheapest plan. And $50k is a rather small total. I've heard many stories of 6 digit bills. The $100 is totally worth it.

 

[Charlie59]

Almost all insurance is a crap shoot. You probably will never need to worry about using dive insurance. In many ways buying a DAN policy is support of an organization thats sole job is diver safety. That may be worth $100.

Plus the more people who buy policies the less everyone is likely to pay, right?

 

[all4scuba05]

dude, just say you're going to get DAN so that we can all be happy. No one's going to know you really aren't going to get it.

 

[all4scuba05]

Has anyone on this thread ever had a dive accident and needed DAN?

I ask because I have, I had a major problem, and DAN's highest level of coverage.

DAN did not pay, not me, not the chamber, not the doctor (who was a DAN affiliate), not anybody. I was out the full cost of treatment. The chamber that treated me later closed. When I talked to them last, they said that DAN had NEVER paid any of the bills, so when those SSS guys came along, my local chamber was gone. Thanks a bunch DAN!

Check with Dive Assure. At least then you will be dealing with a real insurance company and not some multi-headed hydra, part non-profit, part for profit, part research, and part hot line.

Got popcorn?

 

[DandyDon]

Originally Posted by Fred R.
Has anyone on this thread ever had a dive accident and needed DAN?

I ask because I have, I had a major problem, and DAN's highest level of coverage.

DAN did not pay, not me, not the chamber, not the doctor (who was a DAN affiliate), not anybody. I was out the full cost of treatment. The chamber that treated me later closed. When I talked to them last, they said that DAN had NEVER paid any of the bills, so when those SSS guys came along, my local chamber was gone. Thanks a bunch DAN!

Check with Dive Assure. At least then you will be dealing with a real insurance company and not some multi-headed hydra, part non-profit, part for profit, part research, and part hot line.

A seperate thread telling us the whole story might be very interesting.

Glad to see the support for getting DAN. The OP just may not need it, if he has the big credit card and full coverage, but - for $99 a year, worth the peace of mind.

I've only used my Trip Insurance once, when I was delayed coming back from Roatan after 9-11-01, but this is just as logical to me. It may not be the $100K hit, but the chances of losing luggage not covered by the $9.07 per pound limit, being hurt or sick between dives, etc. are really greater overall. So for me, it's $99 a year for DAN, $50+ per International trip for Trip Ins, and - enjoy myself...!!

 

[bennedc]

My wise old grandfather always said, "It's better to have and not need than to need and not have!"

True...I've had DAN for 6 years now and, thank GOD, have never had to use it. Hubby and I are doing our first liveaboard in 21 days...(and counting ), and who's to say we won't need it then? I'll stick with my grandpa...better to have and not need.

To each his own...

 

[BrianV]

So in that context you could buy 15 years of coverage before you took the one year hit of $1,500.

To me $100 is easier to come up with every year than $15,000 on a trip to a far off place only to recoup $13,500 of my cost when I return home.

Hmm I don't think that's true. Everyone here says it's second to your primary insurance. Therefore in my case my primary insurance would cover it and DAN would not so I'd still have to pay my deductable. So with DAN, it's actually bad that my insurance covers deco chambers

 

[616fun]

Hmm I don't think that's true. Everyone here says it's second to your primary insurance. Therefore in my case my primary insurance would cover it and DAN would not so I'd still have to pay my deductable. So with DAN, it's actually bad that my insurance covers deco chambers

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/compare.asp

Read bullet point three under the table comparing the plans.

 

[BrianV]

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/compare.asp

Read bullet point three under the table comparing the plans.

It says "after" your primary insurance. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll pay for the co-pays associated with that insurance. I'll give them a call and see what they say, but again if it's not in writing it may be used against you.

 

[616fun]

It says "after" your primary insurance. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll pay for the co-pays associated with that insurance. I'll give them a call and see what they say, but again if it's not in writing it may be used against you.

I give up. You've made up your mind that dive insurance isn't for you.

I wish you good luck with your diving and hope you never have to regret not having some form of secondary coverage.