hammet
Contributor
Who has it and why?
Doesn't health insurance pick up most of the tab in a dive related emergency anyway?
Doesn't health insurance pick up most of the tab in a dive related emergency anyway?
What's the scoop on DAN accident insurance?
- Thread starter hammet
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outofofficebrb
HARRO HUNNAYYY
In my opinion, anyone who is diving should have some form of dive accident insurance whether it is through DAN or Dive Assure. Do not rely on your health insurance - some specifically exclude scuba diving since it is considered a "high risk activity" by their actuaries. Others include it, but limit its coverage to a very small amount, sometimes to the tune of $20-40K, if that. One medical evacuation and having the coast guard show up will use all of that up, let alone the hyperbaric treatments, hospital fees, etc. The more remote you are, factor in more expenses for your medical evacuation and overall costs. This may mean having to evacuate you to another country before you receive any treatment or having to go long distances in some instances. There is a reason why DAN's coverage goes all the way up to $500K per occurrence for $125 a year + their annual membership. The lowest tier is $125K for lifetime at only $40 per year + membership. Their middle tier is $250K per occurrence for $75 per year + membership. Let's hope it never occurs, though!
Get it and don't look back. It's the best money spent on diving if you can afford the gear and the costs and if you are diving at all. It's worth your peace of mind and is the responsible thing to do if you are concerned about your personal finances or your family's. Don't go into debt in this way if it ever does happen. One might argue IF it does happen and that it's all fear mongering. Well, weigh the benefits to the risk. The benefits far outweigh the risks here by buying dive accident insurance. Can you afford to pay for costs out of your own pocket if it happened, as unlikely as you think it may be? If you can't, which I imagine most people can't or don't want to, you should get the dive accident insurance.
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Charles2
Contributor
I have DAN insurance.
Although my individual health insurance would pick up most of the tab in the United States, it is questionable as to whether that coverage would be extended once I traveled outside the USA.
In addition to getting me medical help while traveling, DAN will also express me back to the good ole USA in the event that I need additional, specialized treatment that is sometimes not found in other countries.
Although my individual health insurance would pick up most of the tab in the United States, it is questionable as to whether that coverage would be extended once I traveled outside the USA.
In addition to getting me medical help while traveling, DAN will also express me back to the good ole USA in the event that I need additional, specialized treatment that is sometimes not found in other countries.
Dogbowl
Contributor
I have DAN insurance, as well as travel medical from my credit card, as well as travel medical from my company, as well as government-paid free medical (if I'm injured in my own province). Is it overkill? Some might think so, but not me. I work in the legal profession and if you really sit down and read the insurance policies word-for-word, and truly understand it, using possible scenarios, you will see that all insurance policies are very restrictive. Some have limits on what kind of incidents they will cover, some have limits on where coverage will occur, and others will have limits on how much they will cover. And every insurance policy is different.
I don't want to be in a situation where I will lose the house I live in or all my savings and investments that I worked so hard for over the years, just to save a few hundred dollars per year on dive specific insurance like DAN.
But of course, to each his/her own.
outofofficebrb
HARRO HUNNAYYY
Well said. I am the same way. I buy dive travel insurance which includes diving as well as non-diving medical coverage and evacuation and of course have my usual dive accident insurance. I already have health insurance on a day-to-day basis but also still buy a medical policy that has $0 deductible up to $1M for my overseas trips. Between those 3-4 things, I'm pretty well covered. The extra cost is negligible, as you say, when compared to everything I have to lose. If that cost is a fighting issue, then I should not be going on these trips if I cannot afford to manage the financial burden or risks.
pjhansman
Contributor
We have the DAN Preferred package, and had the opportunity to test it out in Cozumel a couple months ago. After a very serious (diving) incident that resulted in some pretty significant costs, DAN paid up without delay.
I was told by the hospital that without DAN I would've been paying out of my own pocket and fighting with my provincial insurance or Blue Cross to get it back.
I was told by the hospital that without DAN I would've been paying out of my own pocket and fighting with my provincial insurance or Blue Cross to get it back.
outofofficebrb
HARRO HUNNAYYY
I'm sorry that you had the opportunity to test it out and hope that you are okay now. I'm glad to know that they came through in your time of need. If you're comfortable sharing, do you know what the total bill was and what services were rendered as far as what the extent of your medical evacuation (how far/long?), your hyperbaric treatments (how many?), etc.? I'm merely curious and hope you don't take offense to my asking and understand if you don't want to share. Those of us that have dive accident insurance are somewhat reassured hearing that in a time of need, there is support.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Dogbowl
Contributor
Hope all is well.
Based on your post, it would appear that because DAN is such a trusted, reputable and established dive insurer, the hospitals/healthcare providers are able to go to them for direct payment. Not having to pay out of pocket, and fighting with whichever insurance company might pay my claim, is all worth the extra cost IMHO.
divinh
Contributor
I usually get a WorldNomads policy when I travel. From their website, it covers scuba diving to 50m...
Scuba diving - paid or volunteer instructor or guide (to 165 feet/50 meters) Explorer
Scuba diving (Cave or cavern diving to 165 feet/ 50 meters) Explorer
Scuba diving (commercial to 165 feet/50 meters) Explorer
Scuba diving (to 165 feet/50 meters) Standard
Scuba diving (unqualified/learn to dive course/discover dive with qualified instructor) Standard
Scuba diving to 50 metres Standard
There's two versions, Standard and Explorer. Standard seems to be enough for recreational diving. Explorer seems to be for professional and cave diving, though still limited to 50m. (Would a cenote be considered cave/cavern diving?)
I wonder how this compares to DAN? For two months coverage, it's ~$188 Standard and ~$270 Explorer.
Emergency Accident/Sickness Medical $100k
Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation $300k / $500k (Explorer)
Non-Emergency Evacuation $25k
Trip Cancelled $2.5k / $10k (Explorer)
Trip Interruption $2.5k / $10k (Explorer)
Trip Delay $500 / $1.5k (Explorer)
Baggage & Personal Effects $1k / $3k (Explorer)
Baggage Delay $750 (outward only)
Scuba diving - paid or volunteer instructor or guide (to 165 feet/50 meters) Explorer
Scuba diving (Cave or cavern diving to 165 feet/ 50 meters) Explorer
Scuba diving (commercial to 165 feet/50 meters) Explorer
Scuba diving (to 165 feet/50 meters) Standard
Scuba diving (unqualified/learn to dive course/discover dive with qualified instructor) Standard
Scuba diving to 50 metres Standard
There's two versions, Standard and Explorer. Standard seems to be enough for recreational diving. Explorer seems to be for professional and cave diving, though still limited to 50m. (Would a cenote be considered cave/cavern diving?)
I wonder how this compares to DAN? For two months coverage, it's ~$188 Standard and ~$270 Explorer.
Emergency Accident/Sickness Medical $100k
Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation $300k / $500k (Explorer)
Non-Emergency Evacuation $25k
Trip Cancelled $2.5k / $10k (Explorer)
Trip Interruption $2.5k / $10k (Explorer)
Trip Delay $500 / $1.5k (Explorer)
Baggage & Personal Effects $1k / $3k (Explorer)
Baggage Delay $750 (outward only)
outofofficebrb
HARRO HUNNAYYY
There are two aspects to what you shared here. The first is scuba diving - sounds more like dive accident insurance. What are the $ limits for coverage? Not that you will find yourself going past 50m (or maybe you will) but DAN does not have depth limits. Find out what their limits are per occurrence or lifetime, and see if they have a max on any one item from dive accidents. Find out if your certification level means anything or changes what the depth coverage is - there is sometimes verbage that talks about what you're certified to dive to. e.g., OW for PADI 60 feet and if you get bent at 90 feet, or even 61 feet, a provider can deny you coverage. Oops!
The second half looks more like trip insurance. You can actually buy annual plans from multiple people and the cost is a function of how much coverage you want. It looks like there's a cap of 2.5K for standard and 10K for explorer - are there other quotes or amounts for anything inbetween?
If you do a search on the boards, there are a few extensive threads on DAN vs Dive Assure on dive accident as well as dive travel insurance along with some insertions of other companies here and there. Through Dive Assure you can also stipulate primary or secondary coverage and costs will vary with that and how much you want your trip covered for. Dive Accident insurance rates are fixed per year depending on the plan you go with but Dive Assure's trip insurance also comes with dive accident insurance in case you don't carry it year round. It's so affordable, I don't know why you wouldn't carry it year round. (Entry level DAN is $40 + membership.)
DAN is very widely known in the dive community and its recognition and breadth in the industry also moves the needle for me. I purchase Dive Assure travel insurance with liveaboard rider instead of DAN travel insurance because it is much more encompassing and a better value as well. I still stick with DAN for dive accident though.
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