NAVY VETERAN AND LUNG CANCER SURVIVOR, 85, DELIVERS FOOD FOR UBER EATS 5 DAYS A WEEK TO COVER MEDICAL BILLS. (PHOTO).

 Navy Veteran and Lung Cancer Survivor, 85, Delivers Food for Uber Eats 5 Days a Week to Cover Medical Bills

An 85-year-old Navy veteran who survived lung cancer has opened up about why he returned to work in his later years, revealing that mounting medical bills forced him out of retirement.

Herbert “Bert” Coffen now spends several days a week delivering meals for Uber Eats, often with his wife Rae by his side, as the couple tries to stay afloat financially.

Bert, who lives in Lee County, Florida, said he has been working for the delivery service for more than a year. While he once worked five days a week, his health has since forced him to cut back to three or four days.

On a good week, he says the earnings are modest.

“I make close to $100, $150 on a week, if it’s a good week,” he shared.

The veteran explained that he and his wife had hoped to enjoy a peaceful retirement after relocating, but repeated health expenses slowly eroded the savings they had built over the years.

“We had our retirement, came down here,” Bert said. “We were going to leave the place free and clear, and one thing after another, one medical bill and another medical bill, and it just started chipping away at the money we had.”

In addition to battling lung cancer, Bert has also undergone hip replacement surgery. His wife, Rae, 81, is currently receiving treatment for a heart condition and is also living with early-stage dementia.

Faced with rising costs, Bert said working for Uber Eats became a necessity.

“Uber’s saving me to a degree,” he said. “It’s prolonging the inevitable, but it’s better than nothing. I just can’t sit here and do nothing.”

The work has not been without its own challenges. Bert recently suffered a fall while climbing stairs during a delivery, leaving him with two black eyes.

Meanwhile, Rae was reportedly admitted to hospital again recently as she continues treatment for her heart issues.