I have buried many pets, but last year my wife got cancer and while insurance was a huge headache, it came through in terms of protecting our wealth. She's currently in remission a year later after a very, very difficult fight that she nearly lost multiple times. It was extraordinarily stressful. I learned not to worry about the insurance crap, it all eventually worked itself out despite how frustrating it all was. So I'm not sure 9mm, 45, 357, or any other caliber for the "Hunter S. Thomson" solution, would have been a smart move for us. I totally understand the sentiment, because there are fates worse than death for sure.

What didn't hold up was not our insurance but my employer, who found a sneaky way to get rid of me and not have to deal with an employee who needed to dip out for his wife's numerous medical appointments.