5 replies to this topic

[finGrabber]

Hello everyone!

Here is another great tip while traveling:

Find out if your personal property insurance covers you for loss or theft abroad. More importantly, check on whether your health insurance covers you abroad. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide payment for medical care outside the United States. Even if your health insurance will reimburse you for medical care that you pay for abroad, normal health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation from a remote area or from a country where medical facilities are inadequate. Consider purchasing one of the short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers. Also, make sure that the plan you purchase includes medical evacuation in the event of an accident or serious illness.

While travleing for a dive trip, please remember the above advice! DAN and Dive Assure both provide for evacuation and medical treatment while you are out of the country; for pricing and features, click the following links:

Dive Assure

or

DAN

[Starfish Sandy]

This is great advice Kim!! I'm "in the business" and your home owners/rental policy can contain wording that only covers theft at your home - We checked Dan's policy - which is through the company I work for - and theft is only covered from the home - ZIP would be covered on a dive trip. You can purchase (of course) the extra coverage -

[Latitude Adjustment]

Read your policy! I found out after being air evaced to a hospital that only DAN Preffered covers non in the water evacuations. Blue Cross says they will cover it or apply it to my deductable but it's been two months and I haven't seen a check yet. Otherwise you need a credit card with a lot of room on it to get medical care.

[AliKat]

Being in the US military, I never worried too much about medical, because I know they will cover me for whatever wherever, and if I'm anywhere in the Pacific, I even have access to free medivac via ISOS. However, in the aftermath of the big tusnami in Dec 04, after seeing how DAN helped at least a few of their insured divers get out of dodge (not necessarily medivaced - but just helped them get home), I kinda had a change of heart. I have their preferred, and it seems a small price to pay.

I will, however, check my homeowners policy for theft of personal items abroad. I know I'm covered if something is taken out of my locked car, or off my person at home. Never thought about some remote 3rd world country!

[Starfish Sandy]

I had a brand new computer (15 dives) walk off in Roatan (anthony's key resort) - it was easier to use my own ins since I worked there - so I was glad I had the coverage -

[Scubatooth]

Kim

thanks for the heads up on this . i pretty much have this covered medically as when my health insurance came up for renewal i got on that would cover me for evac anywhere in the world, it doesnt say it covers diving accidents but i called the companys HQ and asked one of the managers if it was covered, and it was. Even though i have that coverage i still have DAN insurance just as a way to covere my six.

as for property, my advice is dont cover it under your home/renters insurance as if you have a claim or two the carrier might cancel you. for me i have several inland marine policys for various types of gear i have. Dive and UW photo gear on one, topside photo & studio gear on another, third is computer gear and Misc. I went this route on insurance as its 0 deductible and full value payout (when the list is submitted i put down what i paid for it and if its gets broke or stolen this is the amount i get). these policys are through state farm and i pay a $1.15 per $100 pretty cheap for piece of mind.