DAN Accident Insurance

In November, we ran a story that DAN, the Diver's Alert Network, no longer provided diving accident insurance for divers aged 80 and older. We first learned about this in an email from Brian Harper, DAN Director of Communications, who responded to our query of our subscribers. In November, I called DAN president Bill Ziefle, who explained that their insurance provider would not accept liability for divers 80 and above, so DAN couldn't insure them. However, he said some older divers had been renewed erroneously due to a computer error and would be refunded. He said DAN was working with the insurance company to extend coverage and hoped to succeed.

After our article, many readers contacted us, upset to learn that they may not be covered by DAN diving accident insurance when they turn 80. We suggested they let DAN know about their concerns. Others wrote that they had had DAN insurance for 40 years and expected DAN to continue to insure them with no problem. Others contacted us to say they had been renewed, so our story must be wrong (we think those were in the computer-error group).

Many of our readers contacted DAN, as did Dan Orr, himself a DAN past president, with whom we had several exchanges about the DAN's insurance policy. He wrote, "It is an absolute shame that divers are being denied the opportunity to dive simply because of their age. I have been reaching out to both DAN and DiveAssure providing my opinion that the older diver is not over-represented in the dive accident data, and therefore, should not be discriminated against simply because they are older. I have made some suggestions to them about what they may be able to do to still provide hyperbaric treatment coverage for the older diver. I would encourage you to keep up the pressure and let the diving accident insurance providers know that the older diver population is a force to be reckoned with!"

On December 5, DAN emailed select members, saying, "Despite what you may have heard, your coverage is in full force and effect, and DAN has no plans to cancel your policy due to your age. Although the policy has an age limit of 80, this is not currently being enforced while DAN works with the carriers to get it removed."

While the insurance company had yet to insure people 80 and above, DAN decided itself to become the underwriter for the 80+ group.

I subsequently contacted Bill Ziefle, who wrote:

"Thanks for the follow-up. After our discussion, we went back to the underwriters of the DAN programs to make another push to eliminate the age restriction. Although these changes are in the works, it will take several months to complete the policy revisions and state regulatory filings. In the meantime, DAN has decided to continue to sell policies without any age restriction, with any claims being paid solely by DAN. While future changes may be necessary, for now, DAN is open for business to divers of all ages.

"I apologize for any confusion and thank you for bringing this important issue to our attention.

"Safe diving, Bill Ziefle."

- Ben Davison

PS: Subscriber Steve Clayman, from Toronto, who was approaching 80, helped us with this article as he faced renewing his Dive Accident Insurance. He wrote this to us: "Ben. I received DAN's email today (saying they would insure 80-year-old divers). You had a hand in this. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for your involvement."