Using diver insurance (DAN, DiveAssure etc)

[on_two_wheels]

Having read the thread about getting insurance, I was just wondering how many people have actually needed it and for what. Share your stories here. From the tiny little boo-boos overseas that DAN kicked in and paid for to the chamber visits.....do tell!!! It's not only great to see the usefulness but we can all learn from each other's mistakes.


I think when I become a DM (years from now), I would actually ask people who they're insured with before the first dive. I would think it makes things easier should he/she be unresponsive or unconscious. No guarantee their buddy would know.

 

[Rick Inman]

I spend a day in the chamber 2.5 years ago doing a table 6 (LINK). DAN was my first phone call and they followed me by phone and in constant contact with the hyperbaric doctor through then entire event. They followed up with me by phone the next day. And they paid every single cent (my primary insurance was a joke). Almost zero paperwork.

As you might guess, I am sold out on DAN.

 

[deco_martini]

I was just wondering how many people have actually needed it and for what.

I've needed mine every time I've gone diving since there is always a chance of something of something going wrong. I've never needed to actually make a claim, but I've always needed the insurance.

 

[on_two_wheels]

I've needed mine every time I've gone diving since there is always a chance of something of something going wrong. I've never needed to actually make a claim, but I've always needed the insurance.

Okay, to suit the anally retentive, I'll rephrase it:

Let's hear about those that have actually utilized their diver's insurance by initiating the claim process which resulted in the aforementioned insurance agency providing monetary compensation to a third party for services rendered to said diver.

 

[seaducer]

Not me personally, but someone in a group I was diving with got a DCS hit. Not only did that person need treatment in a chamber, but as we were evacuated from the island by a hurricane, she needed a special flight back to the states, and was given a special train ride home from the closest US airport. DAN paid for all of that plus a medical person to stay bedside through out the trip. Without DAN I have no idea what treatement would have been given, but I am fairly certain it would have been expensive and in-adequate. Many foriegn countries won't give you a chamber ride without insurance. Not sure about European countries or places like Oz, I would expect it from them. But why burden those health care systems when we can buy the insurance? It sure is cheap enough...

 

[miked]

I have had to use my DAN insurance, and was very pleased with the entire process.
Keep in mind 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.

My experience:

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. I'm not sure if that policy applies in all hospitals/chambers or just the one I happened to be at.

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".
[While my primary insurance covered this expense, I have been told by several other divers that, based on their experiences, DAN would have also covered that expense.]


After receiving that payment, I submitted uncovered bills, Drs. notes, 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:

1) Some medical costs not covered by my primary insurance carrier.

2) The cost of two plane tickets home, when we could not reschedule on our original airline.

3) The cost of shipping 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.

4) Most of the cost of three additional days at the hotel, also the result of written orders from the doctor. The three days were required for more medical treatment, and medical clearance to fly.

The reimbursement for these items totaled approximately $2700.

Additionally, similar to Rick Inman's experience, the folks from DAN were in communication, on a regular basis, with the Doctors and the members of the "Chamber team", during the time that I was in the hospital, and called me during the time between being released from the Hospital, and being medically cleared to fly home.
Also, they, with the Drs., were looking ahead to plans for a potential medical flight/ then train ride home which, thank God, was not necessary.

As a result of this experience, I would never dive without having the DAN insurance.


I give that product my highest endorsement, suggest that you purchase it, while hoping you never have to use it.

Good luck,
Mike