Should I get insurance?

[Cthippo]

I'm an insurance skeptic, so here is your chance to change my mind. I only dive locally within the US (furthest I might ever go is California) and am covered under medicaid (which is surprisingly good, at least in Washington). I know my nearest chamber is Virginia Mason in Seattle because I have taken patients there with possible DCS.

Given that, what would DAN cover that is not already covered?

 

[formernuke]

I'm an insurance skeptic, so here is your chance to change my mind. I only dive locally within the US (furthest I might ever go is California) and am covered under medicaid (which is surprisingly good, at least in Washington). I know my nearest chamber is Virginia Mason in Seattle because I have taken patients there with possible DCS.

Given that, what would DAN cover that is not already covered?

Make sure medicaid actually covers everything. Read the fine print.

 

[TooCold]

Should I go ahead and get the membership and the diving accident insurance. I am just hesitant to pay for it now ...

If I were doing my very first OW training dives I wouldn't want the worry about a major financial hit scurrying around in the back of my mind adding to the anxiety while everyting else is goiing on. Those first dives are exciting enough!

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I'm an insurance skeptic, so here is your chance to change my mind.

The DAN Diver accident insurance is as low as $42.00/year. Their most expensive policy is $117.75/year.

 

[Boarderguy]

Given that, what would DAN cover that is not already covered?

For less than $100/yr you are covered for search and rescue, transport, and the majority of treatment associated with a diving incident. Medicaid may cover parts of that, but not all. The S&R is almost guaranteed to not be covered and would save your estate from having to cover a major recovery operation.

My wife makes a couple dives a year with me and I have a policy for her. My kids are on the policy but just as non divers for now. It's cheap and covers a lot.

 

[BoltSnap]

The DAN Diver accident insurance is as low as $42.00/year. Their most expensive policy is $117.75/year.

For less than $100/yr you are covered for search and rescue, transport, and the majority of treatment associated with a diving incident. Medicaid may cover parts of that, but not all. The S&R is almost guaranteed to not be covered and would save your estate from having to cover a major recovery operation.

My wife makes a couple dives a year with me and I have a policy for her. My kids are on the policy but just as non divers for now. It's cheap and covers a lot.

The DAN insurance in the US is a great deal/value indeed. The DAN insurance in Europe is an even better deal. You can't go wrong with either. I believe that a diver is insane to go diving without DAN insurance considering how little it costs.

 

[bcaderunr]

I'm an insurance skeptic, so here is your chance to change my mind. I only dive locally within the US (furthest I might ever go is California) and am covered under medicaid (which is surprisingly good, at least in Washington). I know my nearest chamber is Virginia Mason in Seattle because I have taken patients there with possible DCS.

Given that, what would DAN cover that is not already covered?

I don't believe that Medicaid or Medicare will cover you for anything outside the USA -- so you're probably good as long as you stay local as you've stated.

 

[davehicks]

I'm an insurance skeptic, so here is your chance to change my mind. I only dive locally within the US (furthest I might ever go is California) and am covered under medicaid (which is surprisingly good, at least in Washington). I know my nearest chamber is Virginia Mason in Seattle because I have taken patients there with possible DCS.

Given that, what would DAN cover that is not already covered?

If you buy the most expensive DAN Enhanced plan ($200/pp for me), you also get coverage for >Medical< trip cancelation for you and your travel partner. $10k per incident. Unless you are purchasing trip insurance for every dive excursion, domestic or international, this is worth paying for.

I have now used this three times over the years returning about $20,000 dollars. The most recent payout of $10K was just this week. I broke my leg about 2 months ago, which was 1 month before a planned dive trip to Indonesia. The trip cost was a bit over $5k per person. The DAN coverage is for a maximum of $10K for trip cancellation. I filled out a simple form, included a doctors note, and they paid within 6 weeks. Fortunately, I got 90% of my airfare costs refunded, but I can make a credit card travel insurance claim for the non-refundable portion. Two other times my wife had to cancel on a trip due to other injuries, and they paid no problems.

While I've never had a need to call on DAN during a dive trip, they have saved me bundles over the years.

 

[BoltSnap]

If you buy the most expensive DAN Enhanced plan ($200/pp for me), you also get coverage for >Medical< trip cancelation for you and your travel partner. $10k per incident. Unless you are purchasing trip insurance for every dive excursion, domestic or international, this is worth paying for.

I have now used this three times over the years returning about $20,000 dollars. The most recent payout of $10K was just this week. I broke my leg about 2 months ago, which was 1 month before a planned dive trip to Indonesia. The trip cost was a bit over $5k per person. The DAN coverage is for a maximum of $10K for trip cancellation. I filled out a simple form, included a doctors note, and they paid within 6 weeks. Fortunately, I got 90% of my airfare costs refunded, but I can make a credit card travel insurance claim for the non-refundable portion. Two other times my wife had to cancel on a trip due to other injuries, and they paid no problems.

While I've never had a need to call on DAN during a dive trip, they have saved me bundles over the years.

That's a fantastically awesome deal/value.


I hope that your leg is getting better and you can return to diving very soon.

 

[Chavodel8en]

The DAN Diver accident insurance is as low as $42.00/year. Their most expensive policy is $117.75/year.

I encourage buying the insurance, but lets provide accurate info. The cheapest DAN insurance will cost you $82/year - $40 for the required DAN membership + $42 for the insurance.

Still a good value.


And re a question above - Medicaid will pay for a chamber ride? I always thought chamber rides weren't covered by most health insurance?