Should I get diving insurance?

[Snarfal]

please go with DAN----you'll never regret it.....

Honest question..

why?


I have been looking over this and Dive Assure and am not sure what DAN provides that Dive Assure does not.

 

[Warmwater Wank]

There is a difference between joining DAN (membership) and adding the other insurance options (which require DAN membership). At US $35 a year you get (among other benefits) up to US $100,000. a year in evacuation assistance for diving & non-diving emergencies that happen 50 miles or more from home. You need to add other coverage to deal with chamber rides etc. but that can be done for as low as an additional $25 annually.

Other membership benefits are their newly redesigned quarterly publication (Alert Diver) which is a very helpful way to find out about dive safety, the latest research in dive medicine as well as general destination information etc. Unstated so far is the WORLD of good they do for all of us, through hyperbaric chamber support and instruction, dive related workshops and training via their Continuing Medical Education and being there 24/7 for any diver or medical professional in need of expert consultation on dive related injuries or questions.

DAN is a whole lot more than just selling you insurance. If you find anyone else providing all that DAN does for the dive community consider supporting them--but I don't know who else that would be. Part of their Mission Statement reads: "DAN helps divers in need..." and that can be anyone, not just members. That's what DAN provides--help and education. // ww

 

[farsidefan1]

Hell yes, but that's just me . I've had dive assure since I began diving. Last August I got a lifetimes worth of premium back plus interest. I actually called DAN as they are open 24/7 and they were extremely helpful even though I wasn't a member at the time. I am fine now with no residual effects (that I am aware of) but it saved me a deductible and copay up to the limit. $5,500. Thank you very much. Also many policies have limits on air transport. Often they limit payment for treatment to what providers in their service area charge. And few include trip insurance. Check your insurance very carefull for what I call gnu provisions. They pay if a gnu gores you on Tuesday. If on Wednsday, ah poop.

 

[DandyDon]

I'm not very qualified to advise on a UK citizen's needs really, and that might apply to some others here, but I'll offer some suggestions. In North American, Canadians do not need dive insurance for diving locally, but they do when they travel out of the country - even to the US side of a river, sound, lake separating. I don't know how UK national insurance covers dive accidents but I suspect this becomes more important with travel.

Good post! I also have a question on insurance. What makes DAN preferable over something like Dive Assure or what not? As a secondary insurance, couldn't that lead to a hassle where Dive Assure being primary seems like it would be easier and more straightforward.

Get one or the other if you live in the US. If not DAN, still join as a $35 member for Travel Assist benefits and a great magazine. Which suits your needs best would be best discussed on a new thread maybe?

Blindly telling divers to buy DAN insurance is poor advice. My health insurance (which is nothing spectacular) pays for evacation if required as well as hyperbaric treatment. Does yours? Maybe yours does and maybe yours does not, but you should read your policy before deciding whether to spend more money on more insurance. I am a DAN member, because DAN contributes to the diving community immensely. However, I do not buy DAN dive accident insurance, nor do I buy life insurance or disability insurance from DAN (both of which DAN offers). I also do not buy extended warranties on products I buy at the store or additional insurance on rental cars (all of which are generally considered to be major rip offs, and the latter of which is generally covered by my standard auto policy).

I'm just going to comment on that part. I have known a few divers who felt their diving was already well covered by existing insurance, but only one of those with a credit card capable of paying huge sums up front as needed for treatment then filing for reimbursement. DAN will guarantee payment, do whatever needed to get you treated, even if they may later go to your primary coverage for their reimbursement. If that now appeals to you, add the middle/$35 plan.

Most of the advice here is from fellow Americans who have no clue as to what the NHS covers or not. Even if you determine you need coverage, purchasing from a company in America my not be a good choice. DAN is good, but maybe not the right choice for a diver from the UK. You need to ask your fellow countrymen who have experience.

Yeah, DAN Americas would not sell to a UK citizen anyway I don't think. Many there do join DAN Europe and it is pretty different. DAN Europe - Home

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I have rechecked my annual travel insurance policy and it does cover me for diving. If anyone from the UK is interested, the link is here:

Scuba Diving Travel Insurance - comprehensive travel insurance including Scuba Diving

Uh, that seems to have a lot of limitations that I would find uncomfortable...
SPORTS COVER - GRADE 1 (Standard Cover) No additional charge

On our Standard cover you will be able to dive to the following depths for up to 3 dives per trip:

* PADI Open Water - 18 metres
* PADI Advanced Open Water - 20 metres**
* BSAC Ocean Diver - 20 metres
* BSAC Sports Diver - 20 metres**
* BSAC Dive Leader - 20 metres**

65.6ft max is not good coverage to me. Even upgrading to 30m/98.4ft is not good enough.

There is a difference between joining DAN (membership) and adding the other insurance options (which require DAN membership). At US $35 a year you get (among other benefits) up to US $100,000. a year in evacuation assistance for diving & non-diving emergencies that happen 50 miles or more from home. You need to add other coverage to deal with chamber rides etc. but that can be done for as low as an additional $25 annually.

Commenting only on that part, the $25 plan is a dog compared to the $35/middle plan for DAN Americas. I happen to enjoy a phone chat with Dan Orr, CEO for DAN Americas, last week on another matter but asked why they keep the $25 plan. He said many members want just that, but I still consider it a poor choice compared to the $35 plan that offers so very much more. Look at http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/compare.asp

 

[mafiajoe]

I'm a new diver, 13 dives logged, about to start training towards my Advanced Open Water. My usual diving habits are: between 1-2 dives a month in the North Sea in the UK (so far not very deep; about 12 metres), and 2-3 dives on holiday, usually in the Mediterranean. This may of course change in future as I get training to do more challenging dives!.......This may of course change in future as I get training to do more challenging dives!

Defintely yes if you dive abroad.I don't know how it works in the Uk but in my country I'm covered by my NHS if things happen to go pear shaped while diving.
DAN is a good one.

Given the type of diving I do, do I need it? I'm willing to pay for it if I do, but equally don't want to waste money.

Things can go very bad whatever the dive type you want to do.Money spent on insurance is certainly not wasted.

 

[D_B]

Comment on DAN plan levels
I used to have the middle $35 dollar a year plan (thinking that if I go on a true diving vacation I could always up it to the $70 plan before I go)
After talking to my friend, she convinced me that having the $70 plan all the time is the one that makes the most sense .. you can not know how or when you might need it .. even just a local tune up dive could go terribly wrong .
My friend was badly and permanently injured during a simple dive (nothing she did, or her equipment did, to cause it) and DAN has come through with many Hundreds of Thousands of dollars over what her insurence has payed
Only $35 dollars more a year for $250,000 in coverage per occurrence is just too small a difference not to get it at the highest level offered ..$35 more, only $70 dollars a YEAR
Look again ... http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/compare.asp

 

[SkimFisher]

Blindly telling divers to buy DAN insurance is poor advice. My health insurance (which is nothing spectacular) pays for evacation if required as well as hyperbaric treatment. Does yours? Maybe yours does and maybe yours does not, but you should read your policy before deciding whether to spend more money on more insurance. I am a DAN member, because DAN contributes to the diving community immensely. However, I do not buy DAN dive accident insurance, nor do I buy life insurance or disability insurance from DAN (both of which DAN offers). I also do not buy extended warranties on products I buy at the store or additional insurance on rental cars (all of which are generally considered to be major rip offs, and the latter of which is generally covered by my standard auto policy).

While DAN is a non-profit organization, its insurance is underwritten by a wholly owned for profit insurance company located off shore. Some chambers stopped accepting DAN insurance because of disputes over non payment. DAN has been sued more than once for not paying its bills. I understand that DAN has taken steps recently to clean up its act with insurance, but let's not equate DAN medical research with DAN insurance; they are separate entities.

And dive gear/travel insurance? You've got to be kidding me. I buy insurance if the cost of incurring a loss would be financially devastating to me. I have auto liability, homeowners, and health insurance, because those losses can reach into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Insurance companies make money by taking in more than they pay out, so chances are you as a policy holder will pay out more than you will take in. If you buy extended warranties, all of the optional coverage for rental cars, and cannot bear the thought of having deductibles on any of your other insurance, then gear/travel insurance may be for you. Otherwise, forget it. If you can afford the vacation, you can probably afford to lose the cost of that trip, too.

I would be interested in advice on this thread from divers who sell health and other insurance.

/soapbox

...what's the problem with a little redundancy?

 

[fellowtraveler44]

/soapbox

...what's the problem with a little redundancy?

SkimFisher - OK. I accept that criticism. But the reader asked an intelligent question, and deserves a well considered answer. Nothing is wrong with redudancy, but she does not want to pay for something that she does not need, nor should any of us. We can all buy multiple layers of insurance for just about any risk (want 2 health insurance policies?), but if a risk is already covered, or need not be covered at all, why waste one's money on more insurance for it? We will hear the occasional story of someone who lost dive gear and the insurance helped, but the likelihood is we will lose money buying insurance for any risk, because chances are we won't need it. If that is the case, why spend money on insurance if we can manage financially in the unlikely event we suffer the loss?

 

[FireInMyBones]

Yes, I recommend DAN. The research material available through them alone makes it worth it, even if you never take a ride (hope you never do).

 

[fellowtraveler44]

Comment on DAN plan levels
My friend was badly and permanently injured during a simple dive (nothing she did, or her equipment did, to cause it) and DAN has come through with many Hundreds of Thousands of dollars over what her insurence has payed

D_B - Did DAN pay hundreds of thousands of dollars over what her insurance paid because her insurance would not pay, or did she have duplicate insurance, so both DAN and her insurance contributed to the medical expenses?