[noni]

Originally Posted by msj5 I totally agree Noni! If you`d never been to Goa before and saw it now for the first time ,rather than all those years ago when we first came and it was still beautiful,would you even consider retiring here!

It was our intention 10 years ago. before the changes with the Visa.
Now that my circumstances have changed dramatically I would rather spend a few months there and be home near my family the rest of the year.

[johnny five]

Originally Posted by chrisjolly Thats because they have died.. .anyway National Insurance in Mapusa offers a Hospitalisation Policy to foreigners and there are many affiliated hospitals that you can use. Other than that the policy covers the whole of India and you claim the expenses from the company. The only thing is you have to have a medical before they accept you.

Foreigners with residency or foreigners on tourist visas............ and no guesswork

http://www.nationalinsuranceindia.co...name=4810.html

Read the actual benefit restrictions in section 2, even the "cheap" (in many ways) medical costs in Goa would very soon eat up these pathetic sums. I thought you were describing useful cover!


.

[chrisjolly]

Originally Posted by johnny five Foreigners with residency or foreigners on tourist visas............ and no guesswork http://www.nationalinsuranceindia.co...name=4810.html Read the actual benefit restrictions in section 2, even the "cheap" (in many ways) medical costs in Goa would very soon eat up these pathetic sums. I thought you were describing useful cover! .

Just depends how much you have insured for...but something is better than nothing. Theres always restrictions with medical poilcies anywhere so its not that bad. I think its worth having anyway. Do you know of something better? If so please share...

[Bipat]

Originally Posted by johnny five Foreigners with residency or foreigners on tourist visas............ and no guesswork http://www.nationalinsuranceindia.co...name=4810.html Read the actual benefit restrictions in section 2, even the "cheap" (in many ways) medical costs in Goa would very soon eat up these pathetic sums. I thought you were describing useful cover! .

I was about to post much the same thing (Oh!! this agreeing )

The initial subject of this thread was full-time rest-of-life care in a nursing home if they become demented. Even if this type of care exists by the time it is needed no insurance would cover the cost.

[Bipat]

Originally Posted by msj5 I totally agree Noni! If you`d never been to Goa before and saw it now for the first time ,rather than all those years ago when we first came and it was still beautiful,would you even consider retiring here!

The problem is that the coast is no longer beautiful because of the numbers who did come all those years ago.!!

This thread is about hospitals, other expats to socialise with. Other threads are about restaurants that have adapted their cooking to foreign tastes. These wouldn't be there if Goa coast was still beautiful.

You could go just 2-3 hours south just over the border, you will get beauty, clean beach, fresh fruit and veg in the market etc. and at least for the now you wouldn't be 'ripped-off'.


However no other Brits to talk to, no smart restaurants etc. No modern health care.

Unfortunately once discovered by the masses (both local and foreign) a place will never stay beautiful in the same way.

[johnny five]

Originally Posted by chrisjolly Just depends how much you have insured for...but something is better than nothing. Theres always restrictions with medical poilcies anywhere so its not that bad. I think its worth having anyway. Do you know of something better? If so please share...

I repeat my question

Foreigners with residency or foreigners on tourist visas............ and no guesswork

[ruskin]

Originally Posted by Bipat The problem is that the coast is no longer beautiful because of the numbers who did come all those years ago.!! This thread is about hospitals, other expats to socialise with. Other threads are about restaurants that have adapted their cooking to foreign tastes. These wouldn't be there if Goa coast was still beautiful. You could go just 2-3 hours south just over the border, you will get beauty, clean beach, fresh fruit and veg in the market etc. and at least for the now you wouldn't be 'ripped-off'. However no other Brits to talk to, no smart restaurants etc. No modern health care. Unfortunately once discovered by the masses (both local and foreign) a place will never stay beautiful in the same way.

A rather sweeping generalisation I would say Bi pat. Yes, Goa has to some extent been spoiled by tourism. However, it seems somewhat patronising to assume that the Goan Govt. can not look at other tourist destinations that have failed and learn lessons from that. Aside from tourism, look at the report on mining and the vast amount of environmental damage that has done. There has not been a will to protect Goa as far as the Govt. is concerned. Read the mining report and it is clear that corruption is endemic in the powers that be. Most posters on this forum actually are pro Goan people and pro Goa environment. The Goan Governments have allowed foreign illegal business to flourish whilst preventing genuine foreign business to operate. In my view it is shameful to blame foreign tourists for degradation in Goa. The powers that be don't need the help of foreigners to destroy Goa they can do it all by themselves

Talking of hospitals the Apollo in Margao is wonderful.

r

[Foxilady]

Thanx for that Ruskin. I have made a note of that hospital as we will be staying at Varca and this is quite close in case of emergency.

[Bipat]

Originally Posted by ruskin A rather sweeping generalisation I would say Bi pat. Yes, Goa has to some extent been spoiled by tourism. However, it seems somewhat patronising to assume that the Goan Govt. can not look at other tourist destinations that have failed and learn lessons from that. Aside from tourism, look at the report on mining and the vast amount of environmental damage that has done. There has not been a will to protect Goa as far as the Govt. is concerned. Read the mining report and it is clear that corruption is endemic in the powers that be. Most posters on this forum actually are pro Goan people and pro Goa environment. The Goan Governments have allowed foreign illegal business to flourish whilst preventing genuine foreign business to operate. In my view it is shameful to blame foreign tourists for degradation in Goa. The powers that be don't need the help of foreigners to destroy Goa they can do it all by themselves Talking of hospitals the Apollo in Margao is wonderful. r

ruskin: I think you have misunderstood my post. I assumed posters were describing the "loss of beauty" of the "coastal belt", as my post mentioned. I was not referring to the whole state!

There is no "blame" of tourists foreign or domestic (I did mention both).
It is just the inevitable result of tourism as in other countries including the UK.
Have you been to Lands End recently?

The building of apartment blocks, multiple restaurants, beach furniture, shacks will obviously alter the environment.

When we drive through South Goa nowadays at every corner there seems to be a new block and fields lying fallow waiting for a buyer.

I also am part of that 'change' in that my family go to Goa at the first opportunity when duties are finished in Karwar, and evenings out from there we go to Palolem for the restaurants there which surely have changed the once idyllic shore-line. In fact a niece actually cried when she saw Palolem after several years.

[dreadsoc]

Originally Posted by msj5 I totally agree Noni! If you`d never been to Goa before and saw it now for the first time ,rather than all those years ago when we first came and it was still beautiful,would you even consider retiring here!

The million dollar question!!
It was virtually Russian free when I started going there - what a difference that made !!!

Dread - x

[a_f_d]

Originally Posted by Bipat The problem is that the coast is no longer beautiful because of the numbers who did come all those years ago.!!........

No, it is no longer beautiful because of the way the local businesses and the government responded to the numbers who came; responded with a mixture of greed, callousness and incompetence.

AndyD₹

[dreadsoc]

Originally Posted by a_f_d No, it is no longer beautiful because of the way the local businesses and the government responded to the numbers who came; responded with a mixture of greed, callousness and incompetence. AndyD₹

You took the words right off of my page Andy !

Dread - x

[bob_bob]

Originally Posted by majorda_buyer I would pick India anytime for any healthcare issues - I work for NHS and it's terrible to get treated like a second class citizen as they are too busy to give a decent diagnosis and long waiting lists.

We must have worked for a different thing then, I worked for the National Health Service, who did you work for?

[SteveKingswear]

I am fortunate enough to have the option of good private health care - however last year I had a heart attack - I attended the local A&E (drove myself there) was seen immediately - waited for the results of the tests ( they take several hours) - on receiving the results I was admitted (approx 2am) the following morning I met the consultant who operated on me that afternoon and fitted two stents - I was discharged the following day. Personally I can't speak highly enough of either the treatment I received or the speed that it was administered. In fairness to BUPA they did phone me throughout my stay to ask if I would like transferring to a private hospital but frankly I couldn't see the point. I don't believe I could have got better or quicker treatment anywhere.

[Foxilady]

Steve I am also in South London/surrey borders near the Marsden, which came in handy when diagnosed with an extremely rare head and neck cancer. Treatment was 100% excellent and I got to know private patients whilst there during treatment for almost 6 months, my treatment and care was exactly the same as theirs. I also attend other local hospitals on occasion nearby and I have no complaints whatever, treatment is excellent. This is the one aspect of living here that deters us from moving to another country as we are both retired and treatment and the manner in which it is administered is very important to us both. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have a fabulous doctor and wonderful treatment in this catchment. I know if I had been in most other countries, excluding the USA I would not have survived. The Royal Marsden had only ever seen 6 cases of my cancer ever (4 of those patients were from abroad), and remember they are the oldest cancer hospital in the world and still in the list of the top 10 cancer centres. So obviously no complaints from me re our NHS.