More on the DAN issue

[Deep Blue]

DAN Vows to Protect Bent Divers In Spite of Insurance Disputes with Chamber Owner
Durham, North Carolina (2006-01-31 17:54:57 EST) In a press release today, Diver's Alert Network (DAN) vowed that they will continue to support members despite a billing dispute with a chamber owner. In the unlikely event of a diving injury, DAN has promised that members will be referred to a chamber and their DAN diving accident insurance and membership will apply. If the chamber is one of the nine facilities referred to in the press release from SSS Corporate Headquarters, SSS has stated, categorically, they DO accept the DAN diving accident insurance.

If a DAN member were to be referred to one of the three facilities that have stated they do not support DAN and will not accept insurance purchased with DAN membership (the SSS Chambers in Nassau, Cabo San Lucas or Cancun), DAN will nevertheless work to assure that the DAN members are covered. Although DAN maintains that the charges at these three facilities are in excess of reasonable and customary charges, divers should not be caught in the middle of this dispute.

To ensure that the divers are not caught in the middle, effective immediately, DAN has stated that their insurer will coordinate with the SSS chambers in Nassau, Cabo San Lucas or Cancun to cover all treatment charges. When the injured DAN member or their representative contacts DAN using the diving emergency hotline, DAN will liaise with the chamber to arrange immediate payment. DAN will continue to do so until there has been a resolution to this dispute. In the meantime DAN continues to seek an amicable resolution with SSS.

[Dee]

That's good news! Thanks

[scubajim]

:cool3: That's Great News

[BlueDolphin]

Yes very good news,

[TheSassyRabbit]

I'm guessing they wished that they had worked out this deal a long time ago... before all of the negative press!!

[SpeedRacer]

My two, or three cents.
DAN is alot more than Hyperbaric Chamber Insurance. They cover alot of other diving injuries and transportation costs. DAN is also a major diving research facility. DAN teaches diving related medicine and sells medical products to the dive industry. So, to not continue with DAN, you lose alot more than just a chamber ride.
If a chamber is not going to accept DAN insurance, then I will speak with my wallet and not dive in that area.
When I go to a dive show, a.k.a. Beneath The Sea, when a dive operator solicits me, I will say to them that I will not dive with them because the local chamber does not accept my DAN Insurance. If enough people say this to them and if they see a drop off of business then economic pressure is applied on to the chamber operator.
A chamber has to justify its existence or it goes away. Unfortunately no one wants that to happen but, what good is it if it doesn't work with the businesses around it and thinks it can dictate to the world it's demands? Yes, it has it costs but it has to be reasonably priced and not out-of-line with the rest of the world as it currently seems.
<rant over>

[mars2u]

Again, I fail to see the point of why this is absolutley and unequivocably the chamber operators fault. Why isn't there a problem with the chamber operator and Dive Assure, Vicencia and Buckley, DAN Europe, DAN Asia, as well as other insurance? Why ONLY DAN America? :confused:
No one can give substantiated and absolute proof that the chamber is at fault here. And no one can blame DAN here as well. There just isn't enough substantial information or proof to blame anyone. Everything we've been hearing is just bantering between the two sides and to be perfectly honest, I'm waiting to hear about the first DAN case and whether they get taken care of. Will DAN really come through? Will the chamber take care of the person?

Just wondering myself :D

[Cold_H2O]

Mars ~ I am of the same mind set as you.

Sounds to me more like a family squabble between a few people in each group.

I hope that if someone needs a chamber that is in dispute with DAN that BOTH sides will step up and do the right thing.

NOT for the benefit of their organizations or wallets but for the DIVER.
No diver dreams of a chamber visit. We all hope that we NEVER have to use one due to an accident. I want to know that if I need the service that I am the main focus not if my insurance is adequate or if the closest chamber will accept my coverage.

[mars2u]

I hope that if someone needs a chamber that is in dispute with DAN that BOTH sides will step up and do the right thing.


:dito:

Well put.

[Cold_H2O]

Thank you. :D

[detroit diver]

My guess is that the PR piece at the top of this post would never have happened if the divers from boards like this hadn't put pressure on DAN. The piece is VERY different from the original posting on DAN's website, which didn't offer divers a whole lot of comfort in those areas that were not covered.