Why is DAN such a PITA?

[Speargun]

I'm getting back into diving after 15 - 20 years and decided to renew my DAN coverage, but what a PITA!

To put things into perspective, I paid $25, and later $35 iirc, for DAN membership which covered pretty much everything (transportation, medical, chamber ride, etc...) that a diver would need in case of a diving accident within the U.S. This was perfect! Everything a diver would need and nothing you didn't. Travel coverage was available for an extra cost, but if you didn't plan on leaving the U.S., your DAN membership was all you would need.

So I just went on the DAN website to get some info, but it appears that you have to become a member before they will even tell you what is covered, what isn't, and what it will cost!? Seriously???

That's kind of like going to a restaurant and not being allowed to see the menu prices before you order a meal. In my experience, those places tend to be the "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" kind of places.

Everything that I find on the internet has to do with travel insurance, gear insurance, or US vs EU coverage. The topics will then wonder off into anecdotes about how great DAN is or how bad or, my personal favorite, "call DAN!" response. To me, that's like asking someone about their model vehicle because you're thinking of buying one and they tell you to call the dealership. -Gee! Thanks a lot captain helpful.

Any of the documentation that I was able to find is so obfuscated and written in such a way that it would take a Harvard Law School graduate to untangle the circular references and terms that seem to have no precise definition! Having to pay before you can even see the price and the way their documents are written, gives me a major scammer/used car salesman vibe. (That money you spent on your cars extended warranty doesn't feel so bad until something breaks & you find out that certain wording allows them to refuse to cover it.) To quote Tommy Boy - Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will.

Does DAN membership still cover domestic diving accidents? Example: I'm diving 60 miles off the coast of Florida (my home state) and I get bent, the Coast Guard sends a chopper to fly me to the nearest hyperbaric chamber where I'm treated for DCS along with any other diving related injury. Will DAN cover the cost?

 

[tursiops]

You may be confused, but maybe you are just mad that you can't find the info you want.

DAN membership is now $40/year and comes with some medical and evacuation assistance. See DAN Membership Benefits. Also, theree are two levels of membership: Membership.
Optional additional dive accident insurance comes at three different levels, each with a different level of coverage. Go to DAN | JOIN NOW. enter US, and then Florida, and you see the three different accident plans available to you. Only the highest level of accident insurance covers your hypothetical of being 60 miles off-shore FL and needing a Coast Guard helicopter to a chamber, but the basic membership also has come coverage if you are more than 50 miles from home.

If you seriously want insurance that CYA, get the enhanced membership and the Guardian accident insurance.

 

[Manatee Diver]

FYI the US Federal Government doesn't charge for rescue efforts. They will charge criminally and sometimes civilly for fraudulently calling them out.

 

[rjack321]

Membership and DAN insurance are two separate and distinct things.

The USCG does not charge for evacuations absent some particularly egregious incompetence. They also dont generally do helicopter evacuations for DCS either. But yes the higher level DAN insurance covers medically necessary transport air or ground ambulances included.

 

[Snoweman]

My two experiences with using DAN have been great. Two hospital visits with zero cost to me. DAN might have broken even, or just a little better in all the payments I have made.

 

[lexvil]

Don’t charge YET

 

[jonhall]

To put things into perspective, I paid $25, and later $35 iirc, for DAN membership which covered pretty much everything (transportation, medical, chamber ride, etc...) that a diver would need in case of a diving accident within the U.S.

Definitely cost more now and there are 2 levels of membership - but they are only memberships that give you a few benefits and allow you to purchase dive insurance.

So I just went on the DAN website to get some info, but it appears that you have to become a member before they will even tell you what is covered, what isn't, and what it will cost!?

You should be able to find a comparison of the different dive insurance policies on their website: Dive Accident Insurance

As far as specifics, you should be able to find a DAN handbook online - probably only as current as 2019 - I have a 2022 edition (pretty much the same, some differences in the wording.)

Does DAN membership still cover domestic diving accidents?

This is where reading the handbook makes a difference as some benefits have the requirement of being at least 50 miles from the insured person's home.

* Sorry - @tursiops gave you great info. My reply is what happens when you start writing and then start watching tv - you get sidelined and finish the reply 40 minutes later!

 

[Speargun]

There's no doubt that I'm confused and I'm, most definitely, mad that I can't find the information that I'm looking for.

Yes, I know that prices have increased since I first became a member of DAN back in the dark ages when you had to fill out a form, mail it in with a check, and wait 6-8 weeks for your membership package to arrive in the mail.

Perhaps membership & insurance have always been 2 separate things, but membership was free, or extremely inexpensive. I might have paid around $70 the last time I had it & I seem to remember that being a huge jump from previous years.
Either way, what I paid back then isn't the issue. The issue is that nowhere on the DAN website, (at least that I can access) does it say what the different levels of insurance actually costs!
Comparing the different plans doesn't really do me much good when I'm not allowed to know the price. If I compare a new Corvette to a new compact car, I know which one I would choose. But which one can I afford?
Why is it that I MUST "Join DAN first" (i.e give us $40 or $75) and only then am I allowed to see what the costs are. Why can't they just post it right there on the website where anyone can read it? Why isn't there an easy to find link to the current member handbook?
Why is it that when I email DAN asking for a copy of the members handbook, benefits, coverage, exclusions, etc… along with the price of each plan, the only response I get is "Please also provide a phone number so I can speak to you by telephone to discuss your questions."
How hard is it to provide the requested information so that I might make an informed decision????

Tactics like these typically fall into one of two categories: Scammer and/or high pressure sales. Both want to get you on the phone so they can tell you what you want to hear and get the sale locked in TODAY. ....before you find out the exclusions and/or gaps in your coverage.

I'm not saying that DAN isn't worth the cost. I mean, how would I even know since they won't tell me the cost.

I'm just saying that DAN's marketing practices are shady AF!

 

[Rob9876]

I agree that it would be nice if it were easier to see the insurance prices earlier in the process. That said, DAN insurance still seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Since I'm about to need to renew, I went in to look at what it would cost for me. I cover myself and my son, so family membership is either $60 or $100 depending on which level I choose.

As for insurance, this can vary by state, but for me (TN resident) the per-person charges are:

$42 for Master level
$77 for Preferred level
$117 for Guardian level

Hope this helps!

 

[Ukmc]

There's no doubt that I'm confused and I'm, most definitely, mad that I can't find the information that I'm looking for.

Yes, I know that prices have increased since I first became a member of DAN back in the dark ages when you had to fill out a form, mail it in with a check, and wait 6-8 weeks for your membership package to arrive in the mail.

Perhaps membership & insurance have always been 2 separate things, but membership was free, or extremely inexpensive. I might have paid around $70 the last time I had it & I seem to remember that being a huge jump from previous years.
Either way, what I paid back then isn't the issue. The issue is that nowhere on the DAN website, (at least that I can access) does it say what the different levels of insurance actually costs!
Comparing the different plans doesn't really do me much good when I'm not allowed to know the price. If I compare a new Corvette to a new compact car, I know which one I would choose. But which one can I afford?
Why is it that I MUST "Join DAN first" (i.e give us $40 or $75) and only then am I allowed to see what the costs are. Why can't they just post it right there on the website where anyone can read it? Why isn't there an easy to find link to the current member handbook?
Why is it that when I email DAN asking for a copy of the members handbook, benefits, coverage, exclusions, etc… along with the price of each plan, the only response I get is "Please also provide a phone number so I can speak to you by telephone to discuss your questions."
How hard is it to provide the requested information so that I might make an informed decision????

Tactics like these typically fall into one of two categories: Scammer and/or high pressure sales. Both want to get you on the phone so they can tell you what you want to hear and get the sale locked in TODAY. ....before you find out the exclusions and/or gaps in your coverage.

I'm not saying that DAN isn't worth the cost. I mean, how would I even know since they won't tell me the cost.

I'm just saying that DAN's marketing practices are shady AF!

Dude, just pay your membership and go at it.
You can not even walk into Costco before looking or shopping without paying a membership. fee.
Think of DAN insurance the same way.