DAN medical insurance

[Stewart135]

Does anyone have any experience of the Divers Alert network ( otherwise known as DAN) and their health insurance?

We are looking around to change and I am have difficulty in believing the deal that I am getting offered by the them?

Opinions please?

[Boatguy30]

I believe it is just accident insurance not "health insurance"

On an aside, I am going to be looking into the possibility of starting a non-religious ACA complaint health care co-op to serve the cruising community.

[surfprimal]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

I believe it is just accident insurance not "health insurance"

This is correct. "Provides coverage for the medical costs of diving accidents", because, "Your primary medical insurance may exclude scuba diving as a hazardous recreational activity and/or may not provide coverage when you are traveling out of the country."

[Vasco]

"Diver Dan" is used by many US citizens when cruising the Bahamas. As I understand it, they will evacuate you to a Stateside hospital. Doesn't have to be a scuba accident. Two years ago a friend went home in a Lear jet after an accident, through DAN. They have a good reputation.

[sv Winterlude]

We have DAN as accident/evacuation insurance, I don't think there's a health insurance component, but if you find out differently, please let us know because "affordable" has increased 100% in the last 2 years and I'm totally healthy..... Grumble....

[kiltym]

DAN Europe offers health insurance, the US version does not, last I knew.

[dilligaf]

I would not travel anywhere without DAN insurance. They will evac you anywhere! It's better to have it than sitting on the beach wondering if you will survive!

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Vasco

"Diver Dan" is used by many US citizens when cruising the Bahamas. As I understand it, they will evacuate you to a Stateside hospital. Doesn't have to be a scuba accident. Two years ago a friend went home in a Lear jet after an accident, through DAN. They have a good reputation.

Does not have to be a SCUBA accident but has to be related to scuba or snorkeling. If you break a leg when the boat heels over... "no go" but if you break a leg jumping in the water to go clean your hull... you are covered.

You may be interested in this:

http://www.imglobal.com/en/index.aspx

If you are sailing the Bahamas (or another country frequently travelled to by cruisers not in Africa) and have a major coronary, your likelyhood of survival is slim but if you break your leg, the pretty much anywhere can make cast if you know what I mean.

However, if you are in most of Africa, you most definitely want to have some kind of travel insurance. The ambulances ask you for cash upfront before taking you to the hospital that you most definitely do not want to get taken to. If you have insurance you get to go in a private ambulance and they take you to the only private hospital in the country. No insurance... no good hospital unless you have hard cash on hand as you lay bleeding on the side of the road.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Vasco

As I understand it, they will evacuate you to a Stateside hospital.

Not quite. They will evacuate you to the nearest appropriate facility that can treat the problem. In the Bahamas, this may be the US, depending on the health problem. Elsewhere, it will most likely be a hospital in the country one is in/near.

It is a common misunderstanding with DAN that they are a "bring you back home" service.

Mark

[Boatguy30]

They will ship your corpse home. Required in French Polynesia.

[Boatguy30]

"No insurance... no good hospital unless you have hard cash on hand as you lay bleeding on the side of the road"

I think this it how's it meant to work when Medicare gets replaced by the $2,000 yearly voucher in 2017. Might need to get some of the horse type blinders to wear whilst driving around here in gods waiting room (FL)

Should brings costs way down.

[transmitterdan]

There are different levels of DAN emergency care and evac coverage. Higher priced plans cover any travel related injury. Read their faq and that should explain the various plans.

DAN is not health insurance. They have a good medical consultation by phone service though. Some really good nurses and MDs are available for discussions for not much cost. They have good knowledge about local clinics and hospitals in many tropical locations.

[kiltym]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

DAN is not health insurance.

DAN Europe offers health insurance. It used to be quite reasonable, but the prices have gone up a fair bit the last couple of years. You must be a European resident to use DAN Europe.

DAN Europe - Insurance

[GordMay]

DAN INSURANCE ➥ Scuba Diver Accident Insurance — Insurance for Scuba — DAN | Divers Alert Network

Annual Travel Insurance - Medical & Dental
Covers usual and customary charges for medical or surgical treatment and emergency dental costs in excess of your standard coverage if you suffer an injury or sickness while on a trip.
➥ https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/a...vel-insurance/

Dive Accident Insurance
Provides coverage for the medical costs of diving accidents. Yprimary medical insurance may exclude scuba diving as a hazardous recreational activity and/or may not provide coverage when you are traveling out of the country.
➥ Scuba Diving Accident Insurance — About Scuba Insurance Programs — DAN | Divers Alert Network

[zboss]

Originally Posted by colemj

Not quite. They will evacuate you to the nearest appropriate facility that can treat the problem. In the Bahamas, this may be the US, depending on the health problem. Elsewhere, it will most likely be a hospital in the country one is in/near.

It is a common misunderstanding with DAN that they are a "bring you back home" service.

Mark

You are correct!

There are very good reasons for this... this is a service generally meant for divers. If you get a case of the bends you most definitely want to go the closest decompression chamber ASAP! If you get stung by something in the water like a box jelly you definitely want to go to the nearest. If you have a heart attack, stroke, shark attack... whatever... please take me to the nearest hospital that can treat me!