The Two Families of Dabolim: A Story of Two Choices

My friends, I am Dr. Celso. I have seen many things in my clinic in Goa—relief, worry, healing, and sometimes, fear. But the fear that breaks my heart is not just of illness. It is the fear of a bill that can shatter a family's dreams. Today, I want to tell you a story of two families from my very own Dabolim.

The Sharma Family: "We Are Healthy, What's the Hurry?"

Mr. Sharma was a proud government clerk. His wife, Anjali, ran a tight household. Their son, Rohan, was a bright engineering student. Life was on track.

Every year, I would see Mr. Sharma at a community event. And every year, our conversation was the same.

"Doctor Saab, insurance? That's for sick people! Look at us—we are fit as fiddles. That premium money is better in my son's education fund. We'll think about it next year."

And so, 'next year' came and went, for eight years.

Then, one monsoon evening, Anjali Aunty had a sudden, severe pain in her chest. It was her heart. The emergency surgery at a good hospital in Vasco saved her life. But the bill… the bill was a monster they had not prepared for.

Mr. Sharma's lifelong savings, meant for Rohan's future and their retirement, vanished in 14 days. Loans were taken from relatives. Rohan's placement semester was clouded with the stress of debt. The family was saved, but their financial health was in the ICU.

The Fernandes Family: "Our Peace of Mind is Priceless"

Just three streets away lived the Fernandes family. Mr. Fernandes drove a tourist taxi. His income was good, but unpredictable—no government job security here.

Yet, ten years ago, after his first daughter was born, he came to see me. Not for a check-up, but for advice.

"Doctor, I don't want a single medical bill to decide my daughter's future. What should I do?"

We sat and made a simple plan. He started with a basic health cover for his young family. As his income grew, and a second daughter came, he increased the cover. It was a non-negotiable line item in his budget, like petrol for his taxi.

Last year, his youngest daughter needed a sudden appendectomy. The hospital stay was three days.

Mr. Fernandes' only task was to be by his daughter's side. The insurance card did the rest. They came home healthy, to a life unchanged. No savings were touched. No dreams were postponed. The premium he had paid for years was not an expense; it was the key that locked their future safe.

The Lesson: Your Family's Financial Immunity

You see, health insurance is not a bet against your health. It is a promise to your family's dreams. It is the financial immunity that lets you fight a health battle without a second front of financial war.

Here is what you must do, starting this week:

• Start Now, Start Small: Do not wait for the 'perfect' plan or a bigger salary. A basic cover today is a fortress compared to no cover tomorrow.
• Protect the Breadwinners First: If the one who earns falls ill, who pays the bills? Secure the income sources of your family first.
• Increase Cover with Life Milestones: Marriage, a child, a new home—each happy event increases your responsibility. Let your insurance grow with it.
• Read the Paperwork: Know what is covered. A 15-minute review with your agent can save years of regret. Ask questions!
• It's Not an Expense, It's an Asset: That policy document is an asset that protects every other asset you own—your home, your savings, your children's future.

A medical emergency does not send a bill; it sends a thief to steal your future. Health insurance is the guard at your door.