Dive Insurance: Are You Covered?

Sliding headfirst into the hyperbaric chamber is the wrong time to discover you're not. Here's our evaluation of the three accident insurance policies available to divers.

By Sam Shelanski, M.D.

Your bag is packed, your regulator serviced, your insurance paid up - you're ready for another great dive trip, confident that if anything should go wrong, you're covered.

But are you? Some divers have learned the hard way that not every policy covers every situation. Insurance can be a life-saving bargain, or a waste of cash that lulls you into a false sense of security. The difference depends on the coverage you choose. To help you get the best protection for your money, our Dive Doc has sifted through the fine print to answer the most common questions about dive accident insurance.

Q: Won't I be covered for dive accidents under my company's health insurance?

Answer:

Don't count on it. Coverage varies from one insurance policy to the next. Unfortunately, even finding out if you're covered may be difficult. A supervisor at my own insurance company told me, "Of course you're covered for oxygen," though she clearly did not understand the nature of hyperbaric chamber treatments. My efforts to educate her were met by long pauses on her end of the phone.

The important thing is to get all promises in writing. Ask your health insurance company if your policy covers hyperbaric chamber treatments, and how many treatments are covered. With chamber time costing about $375 an hour, you don't want to find out after the fact that your insurance will pay only for the initial treatment, leaving you with the bill for any follow-ups. It's also important to find out if your health insurance covers the costs of medical evacuation to a chamber and what deductibles you'll be responsible for.

Q: I don't think my health insurance covers me. What can I do?

Answer:

The safest bet is a supplemental policy specifically for diving accidents. These secondary policies cover the bills your primary health insurance won't, including deductibles. Even the most expensive of these dive insurance plans - $80 - is a bargain when compared to the costs that could be incurred with even a minor diving accident. Too much coverage is always better than too little.

Q: What should I look for in a dive insurance policy?

Answer:

Look for coverage that meets all of your diving needs and dovetails with your primary health insurance to give you full protection.

There are currently three organizations selling dive accident policies - the Divers Alert Network (DAN), PADI and an insurance company called Diver's Security Insurance (DSI).

Both DAN and PADI offer three levels of coverage; each level provides a package of coverage tailored to individual needs. DAN premiums also include a $29 membership fee that supports the nonprofit organization's research into hyperbaric medicine and dive safety.

DSI offers a mix-and-match approach of four narrow policies that can be combined to fit your individual needs. However, the company requires a minimum purchase of $25 and recommends that divers take all four classes (A, B, C and D) for the most complete coverage.

Here's a comparison of how the policies stack up in two crucial areas:

Emergency Evacuation

Many dive locations are not within driving distance of a hyperbaric chamber, and in many cases, the severity of the situation may require rapid (read: costly) transportation. In either case, you're racking up lots of expenses just to get to a treatment center.

• DAN - All DAN members, whether or not they purchase insurance, are automatically enrolled in TravelAssist, which provides up to $100,000 for emergency transportation for the member or immediate family. TravelAssist covers any medical emergency, not just diving-related injuries, but applies only if you are more than 50 miles from home, and requires that you contact TravelAssist before making arrangements.
• PADI - PADI policies also provide $100,000 for emergency evacuation through Assist America. The Silver and Gold plans will cover only evacuation of the insured diver, and only for diving-related injuries. The Platinum plan covers evacuation of the insured and immediate family for any travel emergency.

Both TravelAssist and Assist America include coverage for unexpected expenses that can arise as a result of an accident. These include extra hotel costs and charges related to changing airplane tickets.

• DSI - DSI's Class C policy covers emergency evacuation only for diving accidents, covers only the diver, and has a limit of $15,000.

Adequate Coverage for Chamber and Medical Expenses

Once you've made it to a medical facility, it's important to know what is - and isn't - covered. This is where the plans differ dramatically. How much coverage you need depends upon how comprehensive your regular insurance coverage is. But remember, it's better to have too much coverage than too little. Even a relatively minor injury can easily run up several thousand dollars in medical bills.

• DAN - DAN's Master plan covers all injuries - decompression or otherwise - that occur while diving or snorkeling, but their less expensive Standard and Plus policies cover only costs related to decompression illness, including type I and II DCS and arterial gas embolism (AGE). The Master plan has a lifetime benefit of $125,000 while the Plus and Standard plans offer lifetime benefits of $50,000 and $45,000, respectively.
• PADI - All three of PADI's policies cover all injuries, decompression or otherwise, that occur while diving or snorkeling. The benefits are paid per occurrence: $120,000 per accident for the Platinum plan, $80,000 for the Gold plan and $45,000 for the Silver plan.
• DSI - Each of DSI's four classes offers a $15,000 per-occurrence benefit to cover specific expenses. Class A covers all expenses related to treatment in a recompression chamber. Class B covers all injuries sustained while snorkeling or diving, from the time you break the water until you exit (including cuts, scrapes, stings, bites and bumps). Class C covers emergency evacuation. Class D covers all other injuries sustained while waterskiing, sailing, fishing or recreational boating.

Q: If I only need coverage for chamber treatments, why not just get the cheapest?

Answer:

If it fits your specific style of diving, go ahead. Just remember that insurance is designed to cover the unexpected and it's important to evaluate a policy from a worst-case perspective. Consider this scenario:

While ascending the anchor line, the diver above you accidentally kicks your new Nikonos out of your hand. By the time you catch up to it, you're down to 133 feet with just enough air to surface, but not enough for a safety stop. If you get bent only one of these policies will cover you with no questions asked - the DAN Master policy.

Why? Depth limits - another important consideration when buying dive insurance. PADI coverage extends only to 130 feet, but in the event of an emergency, provides coverage below 130 feet. DSI coverage is limited to injuries sustained at 120 feet or less. However, many recreational divers push the 130-foot depth limit - sometimes unknowingly.

DAN's Standard and Plus policies also cover only those dives made within 130 feet, but their Master plan will cover injuries to any depth. The Master plan is also the only insurance that will cover technical and extended range divers who routinely dive to depths greater than 200 feet. Only if you're absolutely certain you'll never go deeper than 120 feet would a depth limitation not be an important consideration.

Q: So which policy should I get?

Answer:

The one that best suits you. As an avid photographer who has been known to chase a shot deeper than I should, the DAN Master plan makes the most sense for me. However, if you're an active divemaster or instructor, PADI's plans with per-occurrence benefits may offer better financial protection - as long as you don't exceed 130 feet.

The ability to tailor a DSI policy around coverage gaps in your primary insurance may be adequate for most situations, but a severe accident that requires intensive care or chamber treatments could easily exceed the $15,000 benefit limit in a few days.

The bottom line: Review each company's information carefully and choose the plan that best fits your needs. Then dive safely. Hopefully you will never need the coverage - but it's nice to know it's there.

Questions for Dr. Shelanski should be addressed to RSD, Dive Medicine, 6600 Abercorn St., Suite 208, Savannah, GA 31405; e-mail RSDmgzn@aol.com.