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

Herbert “Bert” Coffen, an 85-year-old Navy veteran and lung cancer survivor, has returned to the workforce as an Uber Eats delivery driver to combat a mounting tide of medical debt.

Despite his age and a history of significant health challenges, Coffen operates as a full-time gig worker in Lee County, often accompanied by his 81-year-old wife, Rae. The couple’s situation highlights a growing national crisis where senior citizens are forced to liquidate retirement savings to cover basic healthcare costs.

Coffen, who previously owned a computer programming firm, entered retirement with the expectation of financial stability. However, a series of health crises—including lung cancer and a hip replacement for Bert, and heart disease and early-stage dementia for Rae—quickly depleted their nest egg.

“We were going to leave the place free and clear,” Coffen told local investigators. “One medical bill after another just started chipping away at the money we had.”

Currently, Coffen earns between $100 and $150 per week through the delivery platform. While he once worked five days a week, his declining physical health has forced him to scale back to three or four days. Coffen characterizes the work as a temporary shield against “the inevitable,” noting that the income is a desperate necessity rather than a choice.

The transition into the gig economy has not been without physical cost. Coffen recently sustained two black eyes following a fall while attempting to deliver an order up a flight of stairs.

Despite these injuries and the emotional toll of his wife’s recent hospitalization for heart complications, Coffen continues to drive. He cites his granddaughter, Alexis, as his primary motivation for persevering through the physical strain.

The Coffens’ story is emblematic of a broader trend affecting Florida’s elderly population. According to data from a GoFundMe campaign established for the family, the failure of Coffen’s former business combined with the high cost of specialized care has left the couple with few alternatives.

While the gig economy offers low-barrier entry for seniors, it lacks the benefits and protections often required by those with chronic health conditions. For Coffen, the “freedom” of the platform is a double-edged sword: it provides immediate cash flow but requires high-risk physical labor from a man in his mid-eighties.

“I just can’t sit here and do nothing,” Coffen stated, reflecting the grit of a veteran who remains the primary provider for his family well into his twilight years.