Which dive insurance?

[timetraveler]

I'm in the process of researching dive accident insurance and trying to decide which to purchase.

The two most important questions for me are these:

Which one is the most widely and consistently accepted (especially in the US, Caribbean, Fiji and Tahiti)?

Which is the most reliable?

Although the insurance plans might claim that they're accepted worldwide, I'd like to hear from divers who have experience with or knowledge of them.

 

[H2Andy]

well, honestly, i think any reputable insurance will cover you well

i use DAN, and have never had occassion to use them, but they seem to be the leading insurer

membership and their top coverage is $99 per year

 

[scubadobadoo]

I usually suggest DAN although the other options are great as well and I have used most of them at one point or another.

While you may never use your dive insurance (we hope), regardless of your carrier, you WILL use the information gained through the research DAN conducts as a result of your/our support. That is why I suggest DAN. Another reason would be the free hotline. Call them whenever you want if you feel you may have a dive related health concern, and they will try to answer questions for you, if you are a DAN member or not. Now that's support!

 

[ChrisA]

I'm in the process of researching dive accident insurance and trying to decide which to purchase.

Not only which company to buy from but which policy "level". One thing about Dan (and maybe all of them) is they don't cover medical evacuation if you are within 50 miles of your home. Well guess where I do 99% of my dives? If I got bent and needed to be helicoptered to a chamber it would all happen withing 50 miles of my house. Dan's medivac coverage would not work. But I do have Blue Cross through my employer and they cover acicdents world wide with no exclusions for diving or other sports. My son broke his wrist in Canada (2,200 miles from home) and they covered everything 100% transport by ambulance, xrays, cast and drugs.

I know of one diver who broke an ankle while geared up and walking to the water. Dan refused coverage because it was not a "dive accident". Technically they were right you must be the water for it to be a dive accident. Another level of Dan coverage does cover any accident so you have to decide what you really need. If you already have good world wide coverage then maybe all you need is a basic DAN membership.

The answer is "It depends", "details matter" and "read the policy"

 

[H2Andy]

One thing about Dan (and maybe all of them) is they don't cover medical evacuation if you are within 50 miles of your home.

no, that is not correct.

what DAN doesn't do if you are within 50 nm from your home is fly you HOME if you need medical evacuation. that's part of the basic membership benefits and is not part of the dive insurance. basically if you have a medical emergency, whether dive related or not, they will fly you back home so you can get treatment:

DAN Membership
Member Benefits

Exclusive DAN Member Benefits:

24-Hour DAN TravelAssist
As a DAN Member, you automatically receive DAN TravelAssist and up to $100,000 of evacuation assistance coverage. Effective for both diving and non-diving injuries, this benefit is provided by MedAire, a world leader in emergency evacuation services. Your evacuation coverage begins when you are traveling at least 50 miles/80 km from home and call DAN TravelAssist to arrange your evacuation.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/membership/benefits.asp

if you want air ambulance to the nearest deco chamber, you have to purchase one of the three dive insurance levels. the flight to the deco chamber is covered no matter how far away from home you are, and is part of the dive insurance, not the basic membership.

that is THE MOST CONFUSING fragging aspect of DAN coverage ever. they really need to clarify that.

 

[redhawktwo]

Not sure of the other carriers, but I use DAN, I like the idea of being able to call them for dive medical questions whenever I have the need. Besides, I understand they do a lot of the dive community as far as research goes.

Just my .02 cents worth...

 

[scubaaaronh]

I did some looking this last spring and decided after having DAN for ten years and the info you can get from them that my money was best to stay with DAN.