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The arrival of 2026 found me fighting both ends of a stomach bug. With the added challenge of recovering from back surgery I quickly became the poster child for the saying “getting old is not for sissies!”
Officially “getting old” for me happened last May when I turned 66. Although it happened with all the fanfare of getting closer to my full retirement age, it is chronological proof that I am now in my “late” 60’s.
As a Baby Boomer, who is someone born from 1946 to 1964, I grew up in a time when you had one doctor, in my case it was Dr Felipe in Denton. A true old school country doctor who immigrated from the Philippines, he and his nurse Marian Parenteau could take care of most any malady you had. If by chance you needed a doctor who specialized in a certain medical area, you could find them in Easton. For me, the only specialist I needed was Dr Peter Niebyl, a dermatologist in Easton.
I was diagnosed with the heartbreak of psoriasis at age 13, and I remained a patient of Dr Niebyl’s until his retirement in 2025. He never refuted the fact to me that I was his longest tenured patient, over 50 years.
Having matriculated into my later years, (I cannot believe I am saying this) I have accumulated a cadre of doctors or specialists who are responsible in some way for my physical well-being.
In the last 12 months I have acquired new relationships with an audiologist (hearing aids), oral surgeon, cardiologist, a spinal surgeon/specialist, and a new dermatologist.
Along with these new relationships I am responsible for managing my medications. Making sure that I take what I am supposed to take when I am supposed to take it. It is not as bad as it was for a parent who was taking six or seven prescriptions per day, I am only taking two, but I have the added responsibility of taking vitamins and supplements to keep my body in tip top shape.
I have had the good luck of working in a profession where health insurance has always been available as a benefit. Over the years the cost of that benefit has risen dramatically, not only the monthly premium but also the deductible that must be met before insurance pays anything.
I fondly remember years ago having a $2,500 deductible for family health insurance coverage, which has now morphed into $5,000 for individual coverage. I miss the good old days.
But having insurance does not guarantee the health provider will be paid for their services. Insurance companies have earned a reputation for denying claims for their insured clients. The more complicated and expensive the treatment the more likely you are to be confronted with challenges. Should people fighting cancer fight their insurance company for payment?
In addition, insurance companies negotiate how much they will pay for certain tests and services that in many cases do not cover the provider’s cost. Putting them in a situation where they lose money.
Many Americans’ acquired insurance through the health care exchange and were able to take advantage of subsidies to offset some of the cost. Those subsidies ended Dec. 31, 2025. Without these subsidies health insurance costs could more than double for many Americans, and I fear leave some with no choice but to cancel their health insurance.
Many have said that we are facing a health care crisis in the United States. How health care services are provided and paid for is a good barometer for determining the quality of life of a country’s citizens.
The following is cited directly from Numbeo’s Health Care Index.
“Health Care Index estimates the overall quality of a healthcare system by evaluating key factors such as medical professionals, equipment, staff, doctors, and costs. It provides an assessment of the healthcare infrastructure, services, and resources available in a specific location.”
“It is important to note that Numbeo’s Health Care Index is based on user-contributed data and perceptions, which may vary. While the data could be subject to biases, the index serves as a comparative tool for evaluating and comparing healthcare systems across different cities and countries, helping users understand healthcare quality globally.”
The United States ranks #40 in the current Numbeo ranking, 1 behind #39 Guatemala and way behind #1 Taiwan and #2 South Korea. The same Taiwan being threatened to be taken over by China which is #31 in the Numbeo rankings. Maybe the real reason China wants to take over Taiwan is so they can get a big boost in the Health Care rankings?
The bottom line is the US is failing in various ways in its delivery of health care to all of its citizens. Is it the worst, no. But it is a far cry from the best.
Maybe the current Congress and administration can find time to make reliable and affordable health care a priority.
