Dear Heloise: I read Allison’s letter regarding a Medicare scam that was correct until the last sentence: “Please tell people there is no new Medicare card.”
Correction: Medicare has sent new cards to certain beneficiaries! The accompanying letter stated: “Medicare takes steps to protect your identity and prevent fraud. We found an issue with your Medicare number. To protect you, we’re giving you a new card with a new number.”
Since I had received a new card, I called Medicare and spoke to a representative who informed me that my original number had been part of a data breach; therefore, they issued me a new number that became effective on Jan. 13.
I recommend that if anyone has a concern about receiving a new card, they should call Medicare or go to their website.
— Agnes M., North Hills
Agnes, the person who wrote about the fraud was made to believe that everyone who receives Medicare now held an invalid card. They claimed they had to verify whether she was the correct person by asking her to give them her card numbers. This was when she realized they were crooks.
— Heloise
GRAPES INSTEAD OF ICE
Dear Heloise: I love fresh juice in the morning, especially over ice. The problem was that the ice would start to melt and water down the juice. A friend of mine suggested that I use frozen green grapes instead of ice, and it worked out perfectly. I can also munch on the grapes after I drink the juice.
I asked her where she got this great idea, and she said it was from reading your column. So, thank you for all of your clever hints!
— Stacy M., Royal Oak, Michigan
MELTED WAX ON CANDLESTICKS
Dear Heloise: I have a set of candlesticks that have been in my family for four generations. I use them at Christmas and during a few other special occasions. This past Christmas, I didn’t keep an eye on the candles, and wax ran down the candlesticks. Since these are made of pewter, I don’t want to scratch them by using a knife to scrape off the wax. How can I get rid of it?
— Karen F., Meriden, Connecticut
Karen, a method I’ve tried is using a hair dryer on medium heat. Place the candlesticks on several layers of paper towels and let the warm air from the hair dryer melt the wax. As the wax is melting, you can use more paper towels to wipe off the melted wax.
It takes a while, and you will probably need oven mitts when handling the candlesticks, but I find this the safest way to remove the wax.
— Heloise
LEARNING TO SWIM
Dear Heloise: Summer will be here in a few more months, and I urge every parent to teach their kids to swim or enroll them in a place that teaches swimming. I lost my grandson when his canoe overturned on a deep lake. He couldn’t swim. It’s a skill that they can have (and will need) for the rest of their lives.
— Vera S., Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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