Travel insurance question?

[getwet2]

I was wondering if any of you out there use only the DAN insurance when you travel and nothing else. I have the Preferred plan but my wife doesn't dive so I never considered getting the Family Plan, we have always just got the Deluxe Travel Insurance package offered by the tour company to cover her and all the other stuff that needs covering.

We are going to be going on a few trips this year so I've been looking at different options, you know, trying to save a buck and get coverage for the entire year without having to get it everytime we leave the country. Our bank offers just a Medical plan for singles or couples, I could get the Family Plan through DAN and then add on the DAN Trip Insurance or there's the one from the tour company.

Sooo many options to choose from.:huh: That's why I thought I'd ask all you knowledgable people here on the board for your opinions, recommendations or suggestions. We live in Canada but I don't think that will be a consideration for any of this. (ie: Dealing with insurance companies in the States)

Thanks in advance!

 

[DandyDon]

In addition to diving accident coverage, DAN's dive insurance does include "$10,000 (maximum lifetime benefit) coverage for eligible charges from the treatment of non-diving accidents outside your home country.," but nothing for non-accident needs. I want my non-accident medical covered, too; my personal medical coverage does not cover my out of country; and I suppose your national plan does not cover you out of country. This is one reason I always get Trip Insurance when leaving the country.

Additionally, your airline is only liable for $9.07US per pound for checked luggage on International trips. Another place that Trip Ins can provide more security.

If you carefully compare the exact benefits of DAN dive insurance http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/plans.asp to the specific benefits of Trip Ins, you'll find DAN is great for diving and helpful for other accidents, but the Trip ins provides a lot more security for other possibilities, i.e. illness, luggage, trip interruptions for other than accidents, delays for other than accidents, etc.

 

[getwet2]

Thanks Don!

I've been looking at the websites of the insurance company (RBC) and and my bank and think I'll probably get the Medical Travel Insurance through my bank to cover us for the whole year and I'll have to compare the DAN Trip Insurance with the Cancellation Insurance offered by the tour company to see which is the better way to go there.

 

[DandyDon]

You might also compare this one: http://www.travelsafe.com/

I don't want to file a homeowners claims for lost luggage beyond the $12,698US possible on 2 - 70# bags, I have been delayed, and there's always a change of having to cancel at the last minute. Might consider those points.

 

[tjmills]

Funny thing. I renewed my Dan insurance and they sent me a "please give us your comments" email. I guess I kind of blasted them after looking at the 3rd party rates for equipment insurance and the cost of the travel insurance and limitations there of. My local LDS was also telling me about another plan out there thats cheaper and covers more but I don't remember the name of it off the top of my head.

I do think they do alot for the industry and especially the medical aspect but sometimes it seems like they are becoming just like PADI (Put Another Dollar In). I can get trip insurance cheaper than their High end plan that doesn't cover what I need in the first place and DAN uses a 3rd party to offer this. Equipment insurance would run me over 140/yr which seems excessive to me. I know that I have about $3000 in equipment but this seems excessive for a guy who gets to use it on 2-3 trips per year and a few local dives.

Well, I told them all of this and said that next year I was going to look elsewhere because there are cheaper options with similar coverages.

Now here is the amazing thing....within a day a guy from DAN (Duke University) was blowing up my phone everyday for a week trying to talk to me. Unfortunately I was out of town and didn't get the messages (SEVERAL) asking me to please call and talk with them about this. I was surprised as most of the time you say something you just are talking to dead air.

Now I haven't talked with him yet but I did leave a message for him to call me back. He is out of the office until next week. I will let you know how that goes good or bad if anyone is interested.

T.J.

 

[del_mo]

Depending on how much travel you do, you might want to consider:
http://www.diveassure.com/new/usa/

One annual premium and it CAN cover all trips for the year. CAN because it is your choice to include it in the policy.

 

[getwet2]

It doesn't look like it's available for Canadians?