Thread Split - DAN insurance for Cozumel DM's?

[Jim Lapenta]

Thanks Christi. I was wondering if it was related to some of the practices that Cozumel is famous or infamous for. No need to go into that. I know as an Instructor I can get it here in the US and mine even covers me for technical dives.

Just saw the previous post. Here in the US there is no difference in cost for pros.

 

[driftin' by]

I hope this clarifies this issue.

Christi cleared up a lot of the speculation I had with would render my point I was making above useless. It appears that we both were pounding away at the keyboard at the same time and as I was typing, I was wondering when Christi would chime in. Thanks Christi for adding your ever informative insight.

Good to hear Dr. Piccolo is trying to work something out. A DM in Coz logging 15+ dives a week is obviously exposing themselves to much more risk than the typical vacation diver who logs 15 dives a year. However, very few diving professionals around the world ever run into trouble... at least you don't hear about it. You would think it would be a low risk plan for a company such as DAN to provide coverage. Additionally I would think in order to keep premiums affordable that it would be necessary to have a post dive investigation in order to determine whether the accident wasn't self-inflicted in that the victim wasn't practicing unsafe diving habits. YMMV

What would happen if a DM got fouled up helping a vacation diver? Would the DM be covered under the vacation diver's DAN coverage if they had it?

I sure hope something in the form of available insurance come of all this.

 

[don Francisco]

Regardless of the availability or cost of DAN insurance for divemasters in Cozumel, they do have other options for insurance. Many dive operators join, or subscribe to, one or another of the chamber clinics, paying a monthly maintenance fee and in return getting discounted or free chamber treatments for their dive staff. Granted that's only chamber treatment, not the other expenses or hospital treatments (which they may get through Mexican health insurance), and there's no travel assist benefit.

DAN's travel assist and some other benefits wouldn't apply anyway because they apply to accidents away from home, and so local residents are excluded by definition.

 

[Christi]

Josh - you are right. It has nothing to do with the cost of the DAN - it is about other things! I actually pay DAN coverage for Pedro - one of his employment perks - haha!

Excellent point about being covered if helping a vacationing diver. MOST cases of DCS among locals DM's here are due to excessive exposure (I provide my DM's get nitrox on 2nd dive if diving daily - and always if diving more than 2 tanks per day) or due to some sort of emergency with one of their divers. It seems logical that we would be covered - and that is precisely why Dr. Piccolo has been working tirelessly with DAN to come up with something.

The locals who are actually MX citizens and are employed full time (vs. freelancers) can also be treated at the Social Security hospital chamber under their SS insurance that employers are required by law to pay to full-time employees that are on the books. However, I don't know if Gabi is a full-time employee with this benefit or if he is a freelancer off the books. Regardless, he can be treated at that chamber for a greatly reduced cost however that will be much more manageable for the long term treatment he will need. I suspect this is what will happen once he is more stabilized.

Prayers to Gai, Opal and Heath!

 

[lsorenson]

For clarification -we can PURCHASE it - but for other reasons - DAN will not cover local dive professionals working and living in Cozumel.

Christi... I mean no disrespect what so ever but... I just got off the phone with the DAN World/TravlerEMS who does state insurance is available to DM's in Cozumel! I have asked her for an email stating policy for Mexico and Cozumel which she is going to provide but was leaving the office and would send later today. When I receive it, I will post it for all to see...!

lee

 

[Dave Dillehay]

I don't understand the confusion here.

Indeed, DAN Insurance is available to our dive instructors and we subsidize it for them. It is not expensive.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[WSOPFAN]

This is an email I just got from DAN:

Thank you for writing DAN America! DAN America’s coverage is valid in Cozumel, but you must reside in the United States or Canada to be eligible for our coverage. If you would live in Cozumel, then you would need to purchase coverage with DAN World/TravelerEMS. You can reach their website at :: Traveler EMS ::. If you have any questions about DAN America, please contact me at gsmith@dan.org or at 1-800-446-2671 ext 344. Have a great day!

Cordially,



Graham Smith

Member Relations Specialist

DAN Membership Department

DAN Divers Alert Network

(800) 446-2671

(919) 684-2948

(919) 490-6630 FAX

 

[lsorenson]

I swear, this gets more and more screwed up by the moment!!! That is true of DAN that is serving America (USA and Canada) DAN World - Traveler EMS services Mexican citizens as well as other countries... pretty much the same company but different regions...!

Eligible countries for DAN World/Traveler EMS...

American Samoa
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Caroline Islands
Cayman Islands
Chile
Chuuk (Truk)
Colombia
Costa Rica
Curacao
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Falkland Islands
French Guiana
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Guam
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mexico
Micronesia
Montserrat
Netherland Antilles
Nicaragua
North Mariana Islands
Oceania
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
Saipan
Samoan Islands
St. Barthelemy
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Maarten/St. Martin
St. Vincent
Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos Islands
Uruguay
US Virgin Islands
Venezuela
West Indies
Yap

 

[mike_s]

I swear, this gets more and more screwed up by the moment!!! That is true of DAN that is serving America (USA and Canada) DAN World - Traveler EMS services Mexican citizens as well as other country's... pretty much the same company but different regions...!

This is true for about any insurance company of any type insurance. It all differs per country.


I mean if I was to move to another country for the corporation where I work, our other countries have different benefits and use different insurance providers. (I'm talking health insurance here).


Another example is that a LOT of US auto insurance policies don't cover your vehicle into Mexico. You have to purchase a separate "rider" policy.


This is all based on the "underwriter" of the insurance company and how they do business. It's fairly typical.

 

[IJS]

i think those fellows at DAN must be wandering why so many phone calls recently about divemasters in Mexico.