Aging and Insuring. 06/06/25

Wow, do they look old! About eleven years ago, at age 61, my wife and I moved into a 55+ type “community” of apartments and townhomes. That’s what they call them. Town Homes. It must be because you can charge more for a townhome than for a townhouse. At any rate, they had a welcome to the community event and as we approached the venue we were shocked at how old everyone looked, not pausing to think how old we looked to them. Of course, neither of us look a day over 40, but that’s totally beside the point. The point is (is there a point? I can’t remember) that we don’t see ourselves the way others see us. We (if you’re anything like me) still think the same thoughts we did when we were younger, we’re just smart enough to keep them to ourselves. We develop a “filter,” so we say things like, “You look great,” when we’re really thinking, “Boy did you get old.” And it’s even worse when you look at someone you’ve never met. About that filter? I never developed much of one at all, which is the reason I never learned how to play poker. “Oh look, four aces!!!” I’d have an ear to ear grin. Except for this one time in real life. It was during my honeymoon. I went to a casino in Italy, and I didn’t recognize any game there. Chemin de fer, baccarat, you name it, they had it, but I didn’t know how to play it. Except for roulette. I knew how to play that. I put my money down on 17 for one spin. Everyone was dressed up and it reminded me of a James Bond movie. So, in advance I thought, if the ball drops into the 17 slot, I will just raise one eyebrow, just like Sean Connery. Sure enough, it hit and I did. Walked out of there with enough to almost pay for the entire trip. That’s the last time I didn’t wear my heart on my sleeve. Not literally of course. I’m sure my cardiologist is relieved to hear that.

Our other comic is about dental insurance. Somehow, the actuaries that figure this stuff out, figured that once people hit age 65 or older, they no longer need dental insurance. I’ve walked into a hospital for a procedure and walked out paying nothing to repair my broken ankle or to get an angiogram. Nothing. But to get my teeth cleaned? To get a dental bridge repaired? No coverage whatsoever. Nada. Zilch. But there’s a way around anything. So next time you need a dental procedure, take it from us. Have your dentist punch you right in the chops. Pro tip: It works just as well with prosthodontists and even hygienists. My hygienist has a lethal right hook, by the way.

So that’s it for this week. See you next week with two new ones,

Andy and John