Couple detained in Cozumel until chamber bill paid

[Olariuas]

Since the chamber in Cozumel has a good relationship with DAN, I'd assume once the insurance is presented, and they know they are getting paid, they are good and won't ask anything out of pocket.

Yes for the high popularity and reliable insurance that DAN offer I am still surprise that some hospitals do request you to pay first or they are not affiliated with DAN.
But honestly this is the same- when I consult/buy medicine within my home country- far from my main familly physician-
I was already surprised that my green Carte Vitale was refused.

Thanks! I learnt a lot and this force me to be more carefull to seek about a better plan!
Tomorrow I will seek another secondary insurance cause mine do not cover scuba diving so I don't get why I will pay that one if the main hobby is not covered.


Any reasons to upgrade Sport Silver to Gold ?

 

[DandyDon]

Olariuas I am glad you are involved in this discussion, but it might help some if you edited your profile to include country of residence. I don't know much about DAN Europe other than it's different from DAN Americas. When most of us refer to DAN, we mean DAN Americas, specifically their dive insurance. DAN America offers other insurance products because it is a membership organization, members asked for them, so they shopped & offered - but I've never liked any I looked at. DAN America also has a variety of sordid tales in their history with directors getting rich off of commissions, etc. altho I do think they are trying to move away from those dark days.

So according to what you quoted, regardless of whether you check the box, if you file a claim DiveAssure is likely going to ask you if you have other insurance, and if so, they will likely try to subrogate, just like DAN.

And check records thru the Medical Information Bureau or whatever they call it these days, in which insurance companies provide claims info to other companies.

(Mexico's hospitals are pretty decent, from what I've been told, so if I wasn't diving, we don't get travel insurance for Cozumel- because I do have medical coverage there.)

Especially in the tourist areas. Medical tourism is a growing industry with much to offer American travelers. I get my dental work in Cancun, and I know many in Texas go to El Paso, Del Rio, etc. to cross for such.

I remember a personal story I read here once about a guy getting bent down in the Mahahaul area a few years ago. No medical clinic, no phones, limited electricity, short oxygen supplies, rough ride back to Playa del Carmen, etc. Scary! Things may well have improved down there since, but I'd suggest checking closely before traveling there to dive those famous banks. Traveling alone like I do would be especially risky with no trusted companion, but then I am really too old for such adventures.

 

[Christi]

Yes for the high popularity and reliable insurance that DAN offer I am still surprise that some hospitals do request you to pay first or they are not affiliated with DAN.
But honestly this is the same- when I consult/buy medicine within my home country- far from my main familly physician-
I was already surprised that my green Carte Vitale was refused.

Thanks! I learnt a lot and this force me to be more carefull to seek about a better plan!
Tomorrow I will seek another secondary insurance cause mine do not cover scuba diving so I don't get why I will pay that one if the main hobby is not covered.


Any reasons to upgrade Sport Silver to Gold ?

If presenting DAN in Cozumel, they will not ask you to pay anything other than a deductible IF applicable. There may be a minimum however. If you are not admitted to the hospital or chamber and they treat you and release you same day, they may require you to pay and then file with DAN if it's not a large amount due to the administrative time to submit and receive approval from DAN.

 

[Dogbowl]

If presenting DAN in Cozumel, they will not ask you to pay anything other than a deductible IF applicable. There may be a minimum however. If you are not admitted to the hospital or chamber and they treat you and release you same day, they may require you to pay and then file with DAN if it's not a large amount due to the administrative time to submit and receive approval from DAN.

I’m going to say that Coz is maybe the best place in the world to get bent. I don’t recall exactly how many chambers there were but my understanding is that they have several (reputable ones at that). Anyone agree/disagree?

 

[Christi]

I’m going to say that Coz is maybe the best place in the world to get bent. I don’t recall exactly how many chambers there were but my understanding is that they have several (reputable ones at that). Anyone agree/disagree?

Yes! Agree! My chamber preferences in order (and I have either been treated as a patient and/or served as a tender in all three of these chambers - so I have personal experience with them)

1. CMC with Dr. Dario Gomez (The ONLY official DAN Dr. on the island)
2. Meditur at San Miguel Clinic with Dr. Piccolo - MANY years of service and knows what he is doing
3. International Hospital

 

[Dogbowl]

Yes! Agree! My chamber preferences in order (and I have either been treated as a patient and/or served as a tender in all three of these chambers)

1. CMC with Dr. Dario Gomez (The ONLY official DAN Dr. on the island)
2. Meditur at San Miguel Clinic with Dr. Piccolo - MANY years of service and knows what he is doing
3. International Hospital

Thanks @Christi . I have saved this post in my phone in case of emergency.

 

[Olariuas]

They may require you to pay and then file with DAN if it's not a large amount due to the administrative time to submit and receive approval from DAN.

If you call DAN and tell them prior your departure
- travel period
- specific area
- dives period
and asking to know which emergency chamber are available;

isn't a way to reduce administrative time ? DAN already have a data from you anyways.
this is the same way that I have to report to my bank I am travelling

1. CMC with Dr. Dario Gomez (The ONLY official DAN Dr. on the island)
2. Meditur at San Miguel Clinic with Dr. Piccolo - MANY years of service and knows what he is doing
3. International Hospital

I talked in 'online support chat' or sended email to #1 and #3 and indeed they recommanded hyperbaric chamber in Cozumel with COSTAMED. They didn't tell me about boat / helicopter transportation to get in Cozumel cause I asked infos for Cave divers.


- COSTAMED Playa del Carmen and Cozumel (2) (costamed.com.mx)
- Playa del Carmen International Beach Clinic (sssnetwork.com)
- Cozumel International Hospital (sssnetwork.com)
- San Miguel Clinic (hospitalmsm.com)

 

[Christi]

If you call DAN and tell them prior your departure
- travel period
- specific area
- dives period
and asking to know which emergency chamber are available;

isn't a way to reduce administrative time ? DAN already have a data from you anyways.
this is the same way that I have to report to my bank I am travelling



I talked in 'online support chat' or sended email to #1 and #3 and indeed they recommanded hyperbaric chamber in Cozumel with COSTAMED. They didn't tell me about boat / helicopter transportation to get in Cozumel cause I asked infos for Cave divers.


- COSTAMED Playa del Carmen and Cozumel (2) (costamed.com.mx)
- Playa del Carmen International Beach Clinic (sssnetwork.com)
- Cozumel International Hospital (sssnetwork.com)
- San Miguel Clinic (hospitalmsm.com)

CostaMed and CMC are the same place

 

[islanddream]

I got skin bends in Coz last October. They didn't come on until about four hours after my last dive of the day. I called DAN when they symptoms started to show up and they told me I needed to get to a chamber at the International Hospital. I had read such great reviews about Dr. Piccolo, I told them that's where I was headed. I had about a 5 1/2 hour chamber ride and saw Dr. Piccolo the following two days for follow-up exams but no more chamber treatments were needed. My entire bill of around $6,000 was paid by DAN. I didn't need to pay anything up front. I'd never used my DAN insurance before and I've had it for 16 years. I'm sure glad I had it and will continue to do so.

 

[ibj40]

I copied my info from page 6 here: https://www.diveassure.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DiveSafe-DOC-English.pdf


I don't think so, but those terms are common on many sites. Put the first sentence inside quotation marks on google search and see.

You do need to read your policy. Contact the company to get a copy.

DD - this may only be relevant to you and me, but did I read in Diveassure's coverage that they stop at age 72?

Anyone know if DAN has a similar restriction?