28 replies to this topic

[scubafanatic]

I'd like to suggest SD.com have a 'section' where questions/information with respect to dive/travel insurance matters can be discussed. It's frequently suggested on SD.com that divers consider purchasing trip insurance but I don't see central location where this subject can be discussed. I just saw an interesting thread over on Scubaboard which generated a question in my mind that I'd like to see addressed, but don't see where such a thread should be posted here.

My question involves just aborted Flower Gardens/FLING trip thread where the trip was cancelled after the very first dive, one of the trip leaders suffered an 'undeserved DCI hit' and the Coast guard helicopters were deployed elsewhere and unavailable for an evacuation, so the Coast Guard told FLING to bring the diver back itself........as a result, the rest of the trip was a bust, and all the other divers suffered a complete 100% financial loss on the trip as FLING doesn't do refunds under such circumstances.

My question is, is there any such thing as trip insurance that would have covered divers under such circumstances...I'd hate to have to 'eat' a dive trip due to the 'authorities' being 'busy'.

Thanks!

Karl

[WreckWench]

This forum will work for now until we figure out if we need to add other forums.

As for answering your question...

If you had purchased trip insurance you would have been covered for the incident referenced above. The trip was cancelled due to extenuating circumstances to no fault of your own therefore it qualifies.

[dustbowl diver]

Good suggestion and great question to kick this off!!

Thanks scubafanatic!!

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

I just found this thread, and it would be GREAT if further info could be posted here, to assist our members to understand WHEN trip insurance should be purchased when taking an SD.com trip, and why the timing of the insurance purchase is so important.

For instance, I've heard it said that we should purchase the trip insurance before our last payment is made to SD.com for the trip. I don't understand why the timing of purchasing trip insurance is tied to making payments to SD.com. As long as I purchase the insurance before the trip AND before any extenuating circumstances occur, the policy should be valid, right? It's also difficult to know how much insurance to purchase until you gather all your receipts for trip items you paid for, such as the trip, add-on side trips, and various flights -- flights being the stickler for me -- I may wait for a last minute airfare bargain! And what if we buy insurance now, but add on trip options later because they were posted after we signed up?

So, just bringing this back to the top so we can add some material content for other members to read & understand (including me!) I know WW is currently in Belize, so I'll PM her a link to this post so she sees it when she gets back.

[Parrotman]

In my experience, I have not had any issues with buying trip insurance after having made full payment for the trip. In fact on one trip I bought the insurance several months after paying for the trip in full.

As for Kamalas post about the cancellation part as described, not to contradict Kamala, she is the Queen after all

BUT - on my trip to PNG we had a diver on the boat that had to be flown back to Australia for a medical emergency and it meant having to take a day to go back to port where he could be taken off the boat and then transported. It was not a big deal to the divers on the boat however when I got home I called my trip insurer to see whether they would have covered this if it had been more than the day and they said no. They claimed that the sick diver should have had evacuation insurance and that if they had used that, the trip would not have been interupted. My point being, make sure that you ask if this is covered, don't just assume it.

Jim

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

In my experience, I have not had any issues with buying trip insurance after having made full payment for the trip. In fact on one trip I bought the insurance several months after paying for the trip in full.

I agree, there is not an issue buying insurance at any time up to the time you leave on a trip. They'll certainly sell it to you! I have always waited to purchase the insurance until after I'm sure there are no more add-ons....

However, I have heard that there are issues getting paid back by the insurance company if you cannot go on the trip for a reason which is covered by the policy, if you bought the insurance after you made your final payment for the trip itself.

Just wanting clarification, since others have asked me if I know how trip insurance works, and I have to admit that I don't!

[Bubble2Bubble]

I thought you bought extra trip insurance for lost equipment, trip cancelations etc.. thru your DAN policy ?

[scubaski]

I buy trip insurance on same day payment in full is made. I use the SD.com link to CSA Travel Protection. I also used the link that imbeds SD.com vendor ID for non SD.com trips that I want to purchase insurance on. I buy for trips during prime hurricanne season dates and package trips that include land hotel and dive packages and airfare that I purchase on my own. These trips usually cost more that $1000.00 and I'll pony up another $75-125 for trip insurance. You definitly need to buy insurance before any NAMED Tropical storms to be covered.

I have filed a claimed against the CSA insurance for a trip that we needed to be evacuated off Roatan during Hurricanne Felix. Insurance covered all lost costs and added costs for evacuation flight. Paper work wasn't to bad and payment was fairly prompt. This insurance doesn't cover for lost or stolen equipment.

I have priced out CSA vs DAN trip insurance and usually CSA is cheaper. DAN does have the option of buying trip and equipment insurance.

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Great feedback, Stan, for a claim made when insurance is purchased at the time your final payment is made for the trip itself.

Anybody been denied your claim because you bought the insurance a day or more after your final trip payment?

[Greg@ihpil]

I'd like to suggest SD.com have a 'section' where questions/information with respect to dive/travel insurance matters can be discussed. It's frequently suggested on SD.com that divers consider purchasing trip insurance but I don't see central location where this subject can be discussed. I just saw an interesting thread over on Scubaboard which generated a question in my mind that I'd like to see addressed, but don't see where such a thread should be posted here.

My question involves just aborted Flower Gardens/FLING trip thread where the trip was cancelled after the very first dive, one of the trip leaders suffered an 'undeserved DCI hit' and the Coast guard helicopters were deployed elsewhere and unavailable for an evacuation, so the Coast Guard told FLING to bring the diver back itself........as a result, the rest of the trip was a bust, and all the other divers suffered a complete 100% financial loss on the trip as FLING doesn't do refunds under such circumstances.

My question is, is there any such thing as trip insurance that would have covered divers under such circumstances...I'd hate to have to 'eat' a dive trip due to the 'authorities' being 'busy'.

Thanks!

Karl

This is a test.

[Divegirl412]

I also had to file a claim with CSA for days of lost diving in the Caymans due to a hurricane. Their service was excellent and payment was prompt.. and they have always been cheaper than DAN.

I always do buy my insurance when I make my first payment. It is usually easy to estimate additional costs... use expedia to estimate airfare etc, and add a small cushion. The main cost is usually the trip itself anyway. Don't forget that if you have made serial payments and for some reason (before the trip occurs) something happens to cancel the trip for YOU (personal) or for the group.. (operator issues etc), your payments could be lost. And if you are a last day insurance buyer, you won't have coverage at that point yet. If you cancel for personal reasons, and SD has already guaranteed to the operator, and no one can be found to take your place, you will lose the money, since SD cannot eat that cost. (Or whomever you are booking with). For those of us on the Red sea trip, that is already a couple thousand dollars. I assume that is why Kamala advises buying at the time of the first payment. But she can clarify further. Of course look very carefully since several policies do NOT cover personal reasons cancellations. Similar to coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, it is frequently an add on.

Another option for people who travel and dive a lot is Diveassure. They have several tiers of coverage. I like and use their diamond plan now. A bit pricey, but it covers you the entire year... for all diving trips made. If you take more than two significant dive trips a year and buy insurance for both, the cost approximates this single policy.

[Parrotman]

I also wanted to mention that several years ago I had a trip booked on the Nekton and shortly before I was to leave on the trip I was down sized out of my job. I made a claim on the trip, I was not going to go since I needed to find a new job and the insurance company paid with no problems at all. I only had to supply a letter to the insurance company from my employer that I was unemployed through no fault of my own. .

Jim

[WreckWench]

Hey gang...in Belize right now but will help you all with these questions when I get back into the country! kamala

[j274]

Newb Question : Where is the link to CSA Travel Protection?