I love getting together with an old friend! So glad you finally got the chance to do it again. I'm sorry he is having such financial issues due to medical expenses. The cost of medical care is ridiculous here, and I'm sure it's worse there. And insurance doesn't always pay for the best treatment. Now that we are getting older and on Medicare, the things we are likeliest to need the most are no longer covered, like dental care and and things like orthotics. I prefer alternative medicine, anyway, and none of that is covered by insurance. I hear talk of people trying to set up a completely new system of health care, but it's going to take a long time and will likely be more expensive than the average person can afford, if it ever happens.