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I am referencing DAN America's Dive Insurance, not their other brokered coverage plans - or go with Dive Assure if you'd like and live in a state or country where they are licensed to sell, but don't dive without good dive insurance. And do not just go with the cheapest DAN plan as it is a mistake!
I don't post in this forum much at all, but I keep running across this shortcoming in discussions - and it amazes me. Scuba is a potentially dangerous sport (not a hobby like golf; it can kill ya!) which we try to manage safely - but guano happens. I have less than 500 dives but have seen 6 divers leave in ambulances over the years, 2 of whom would not be alive today had it not been for DAN's TravelAssist - and those two had made no errors.
There are two parts to DAN coverage...
1: Membership is required @ $35/yr with family discounts available. With that you receive TravelAssist "up to $100,000 of evacuation assistance coverage. Effective for both diving and non-diving injuries, this benefit is provided by AIG Travel Assist, 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." Keep in mind that this must be arranged thru the member phone numbers but can be very important to appropriate treatment. You also receive a great magazine and more. See Membership benefits here
2: Dive insurance is separate @ $25, $35, or $70/year - but the cheapest Standard plan @ $25 is a mistake, not a starter plan which I guess it why some buy it without really looking. When asked why they even carried that dog, the CEO replied that some members insist that is what they want - even tho the Master paln @ $10 more is far superior.
Many of us have the Preferred plan @ $70 with coverage more than twice the middle plan plus additional benefits, but your call - middle or top. See Dive Insurance plans here and do take a few minutes to look over the plans carefully.
So you are looking at $70 to $105 a year and you cannot afford to even dive your home quarry without it - unless you are the very rare person with remarkable medical coverage without common exclusions for scuba and/or international travel and a superior credit card limit that will allow you to pay tremendous fees up front so as to be reimbursed months later. It is true that DAN and Dive Assure both warn that coverage is not a guarantee of acceptance by all clinics and chambers and prepayment may be required in some locations, but many facilities do accept coverage and just bill DAN - or in the worst case, you can phone DAN collect insisting on money to be wired, which is what I would have to do in a major case. It can be arranged.
I don't know for sure why shops and instructors are not getting this message out better? My hunch is that they don't want Scuba to seem dangerous as that'd be bad for business, but it's true. Padi skips over this need as well, even tho they are a major contributor; don't know about other agencies.
Then, if you are unlucky enough to injure your ears, cut your leg on a ladder, or end up paralyzed in need of an expensive chamber ride, you can afford the best treatment. Anyone can call DAN collect 24/7 for expert medical counsel, I've done it a few times and they never asked if I was a member until late in the chat, but when caca happens, you're covered. Make sure your card is easily accessible; I wear a DAN tag on my BC.
I don't post in this forum much at all, but I keep running across this shortcoming in discussions - and it amazes me. Scuba is a potentially dangerous sport (not a hobby like golf; it can kill ya!) which we try to manage safely - but guano happens. I have less than 500 dives but have seen 6 divers leave in ambulances over the years, 2 of whom would not be alive today had it not been for DAN's TravelAssist - and those two had made no errors.
There are two parts to DAN coverage...
1: Membership is required @ $35/yr with family discounts available. With that you receive TravelAssist "up to $100,000 of evacuation assistance coverage. Effective for both diving and non-diving injuries, this benefit is provided by AIG Travel Assist, 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." Keep in mind that this must be arranged thru the member phone numbers but can be very important to appropriate treatment. You also receive a great magazine and more. See Membership benefits here
2: Dive insurance is separate @ $25, $35, or $70/year - but the cheapest Standard plan @ $25 is a mistake, not a starter plan which I guess it why some buy it without really looking. When asked why they even carried that dog, the CEO replied that some members insist that is what they want - even tho the Master paln @ $10 more is far superior.
Many of us have the Preferred plan @ $70 with coverage more than twice the middle plan plus additional benefits, but your call - middle or top. See Dive Insurance plans here and do take a few minutes to look over the plans carefully.So you are looking at $70 to $105 a year and you cannot afford to even dive your home quarry without it - unless you are the very rare person with remarkable medical coverage without common exclusions for scuba and/or international travel and a superior credit card limit that will allow you to pay tremendous fees up front so as to be reimbursed months later. It is true that DAN and Dive Assure both warn that coverage is not a guarantee of acceptance by all clinics and chambers and prepayment may be required in some locations, but many facilities do accept coverage and just bill DAN - or in the worst case, you can phone DAN collect insisting on money to be wired, which is what I would have to do in a major case. It can be arranged.
I don't know for sure why shops and instructors are not getting this message out better? My hunch is that they don't want Scuba to seem dangerous as that'd be bad for business, but it's true. Padi skips over this need as well, even tho they are a major contributor; don't know about other agencies.
Special note to Open Water students: Your Instructor can enroll you in the student plan for free that covers you during OW training. It is a bit of a hassle, but ask him/her to do so - and buy his/her lunch.
This post is about DAN America, while other regions of the world have other DAN organizations and different plans - but does include Canadians, who seem to have socialized medical coverage for scuba until they leave Canada - then need it. Specifics about other regions organizations and plans would probably be best discussed on local forums. Even tho DAN organizations and plans vary by regions, DAN America members retain the same coverage wherever they travel even tho services may be coordinated by the local organization. DAN is not in the insurance business and I think that would be a conflict if they were; the dive insurance is underwritten by United States Life Insurance Company which is licensed to sell in all 50 states.Then, if you are unlucky enough to injure your ears, cut your leg on a ladder, or end up paralyzed in need of an expensive chamber ride, you can afford the best treatment. Anyone can call DAN collect 24/7 for expert medical counsel, I've done it a few times and they never asked if I was a member until late in the chat, but when caca happens, you're covered. Make sure your card is easily accessible; I wear a DAN tag on my BC.
thank you for allowing this rant... :blush:
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Can you always get a road ambulance to a chamber or might you need to be flown there?
