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Past 65 byCarlRiblet Jr. Q. - "My next door neigh­ bor inherited a wad of money at age 72 and now he's rich and doesn't need his Social Security check. He is going to move from this rundown neighborhood. So he sent the check back to them in a letter that said don't send it anymore, because "I have a lot o( money and don't need it." The SS sent it back to him and said he had to take it. Isn't that terrible? A decent citizen says he doesn't need the govern­ ment's money and they insist he has to take it. Where is the justice in a system like that? If I had a lot of money, I would refuse to take my SS check." - Matt H. A. - This is the second time I have received such a complaint. So I checked carefully with Social Security and learned that Matt's next-door neighbor could not have stated the true facts. Whenever Social Security receives a statement of refusal of SS benefits it obliges the beneficiary. It takes the name off the mailing list and stops sending the monthly checks. There is no problem about it. It is somewhat different in Canada. Should a recipient of monthly benefits write to the Old Age Pension board to request that the benefits be stopped because he or she does not need the money, the pension board discontinues mailing of the monthly check but places the money in a trust fund under the beneificiary's name. It is always there for him should he someday want it. The Social Security people in Washington report that there are very few instances of anyone, rich as can be or merely well off, who asks that the monthly benefit be stopped as unneeded. Whenever such a rare request comes in, the bureau employees put it down as the act of rich person who is off his nut. When Herbert Hoover was president of the U.S., he never accepted his monthly checks totaling $75,000 a year. He was not off his nut. He was rich and didn't need it, and he kept it quiet until after his presidency. SS administration employee pointed to Colonel Sanders, the fried chicken king who started his business nearly 30 years ago with a month's SS check as his sole investment, and then parlayed it to sell out some years later for a reputed $3 million. The Social Security em­ ployee reports that the goateed colonel, as rich as anybody could reasonably desire, still receives his SS check - and cashes it. Money in the hand is always welcome and seldom refused. Q. - "What people need who are to go on Medicare is some kind of guide in buying supplemental health in­ surance. I am 64 and con­ fused by the ads of mail­ order insurance companies. The stuff they send to you when you answer an ad­ vertisement reads good until you try to understand it. Then, if you are like me, you are lost. Can you tell me how a person should buy health insurance?" - Trudy B. A. - Whether Trudy needs health insurance in addition to Medicare is a question she should discuss with others, preferably an experienced local insurance agent, and also, someone who un­ derstands her financial situation. Now, at age 64, is an ideal time to ask all the questions. What follows are suggestions for Trudy and other elders on how to go about buying health in­ surance. The idea is to shop for insurance the way you shop for food items at supermarkets. To shop is the procedure that will find the best supplemental policy possible. 1 - Policies differ widely on coverage and cost, and the insurance companies differ in the kind of service they give. Contact some of the different companies and compare their offerings on policies carefully before signing. 2 - If a senior is going to talk with agents, then he or REGISTER TO VOTE Sponsored by League of Women Voters AT McHenry State Bank 3510 W. Elm St. McHenry she should first write to the State Insurance commission at the state capital and request a checklist. If the agent won't help to complete the checklist sent by the state agency, then show him the door. 3 - Don't purchase more policies than are needed. Duplicate coverage is costly and not necessary. A single policy that is wide-ranging in its coverage is better than several policies with overlapping or duplicate coverage. 4 - Be sure to check policies for exclusions of health problems that exist right now. Some policies reduce or eliminate coverage for pre-existing health conditions. If you had a heart attack last year, for example, you may not be covered for another heart attack, no matter how much you have paid in on premiums. 5 - Don't be misled by the promise that "no medical examination is required." If you have had a health problem, the insurance company might not cover you for expenses paid out to ease'or cure the problem. Be careful not to be misled. 6 r- Beware of the salesman who suggests that you give up a policy you already have so you can afford to buy his. Often, the new policy will impose a waiting period, or it may have exclusions or waiting periods for pre­ existing conditions that your present policy already covers. 7 - Do not keep paying on policies that may be inadequate even if you have had them a long time. No insurance company will give you a single drop of sweat off its corporate brow just because you have paid on a policy for many years. 8 - Be knowledgeable of the maximum benefits a policy may seem to offer. Most policies have some type of limit of benefits which may be expressed in terms of dollars payable, or the number of days for which payment will be made. 9 - Beware of a policy that permits the insurance company to refuse to renew it on an individual basis. Such a policy provides the least permanent coverage. Refusal to renew should be a blanket refusal-hundreds or thousands of policies at one time, not a singling out of one policy, perhaps yours. 10 - Don't get the notion that policies to supplement Medicare are sold or ser­ viced by either state or federal government. While state insurance departments do approve policies sold by insurance companies, ap­ proval means only that the company and the policy meet the minimum requirements of the state laws on insurance. 11 - Do not believe any statement that says in­ surance to supplement Medicare is a government- sponsored program. There is no such thing. 12 - Watch out when you listen to insurance people you don't know. While nine out of 10 may be straight­ forward, one may not and it might be just your bad luck to let that tenth one pass through your front door. An insurance company must meet certain qualifications to do business in your state. Agents must be licensed and must carry with them proof of such licensing. If an agent can't show proof, with his name entered on the licensing card, then pass him out the door. A business card is not a license to sell insurance. 13 - When you talk to an agent, write down his name, address and phone number, and the address of the company he represents. Keep the names and ad­ dresses for future reference in case of dispute. 14 - Take your time in thinking about buying a policy and don't fall for the "rush" clause in ad­ vertisements, direct mail ads and high-pressure sales letters that say there is only a short-term period to take advantage of the insurance company's current offer. That is an old trick of the high-pressure boys. Allow time to think it through. 15 - When you do decide to take a policy, complete the application most carefully. Some companies ask for detailed medical in­ formation. If you omit specific medical in­ formation, the result can be costly to you. The company can refuse to cover for a condition that it says you concealed by not including it in your application. 16 - Insurance policies are difficult for the average senior to understand-me, for example. So ask the agent, by mail or in person, for a clearly worded sum­ mary of the policy. Then read the summary carefully when you are alone and can concentrate all of your at­ tention on it. 17 - Never pay cash for an insurance policy's premiums. Pay by check, money order or bank draft and make the drafts payable to the company, not the agent or anyone else. Cash leaves no record for proof of payment. 18 -- Most insurance companies give you at least 10 days to review the policy after you receive it. If you decide you don't want it, then send it back to the company within 10 days and the company will be obliged to give you a refund of premiums paid by you. If an envelope with refund en­ closed is not soon slipped into your mailbox, report the delay to your state insurance department. What this country needs in every city is a committee of retired, trustworthy and well-known insurance people who can advise elders. I should think any good in­ surance man would want to help to organize such a service. Q. - "The coming election has everybody in my Senior Citizens club worried to death. We can't make up our minds which is the best candidate for us seniors - Mr. Carter or Mr. Reagan. PAGE 17 - PLAIN DEALER . FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER M. IMS Feeding Time At The Zoo I Po|itica| Corner I Satisfying a pet dog or cat lanky, gray-haired monkeys years while court | iriiH A nan nf (AAH ic cn OQOV ...iik TL« Satisfying a pet dog or cat with a can of food is so easy that most pel owners never think twice about feeding time. But Olav Ofiedal of the Smithsonian's National Zoological park faces the challenge of feeding time every day for the park's 2,400 animals. Because commercially prepared food isn't suitable for a wide range of exotic animals, Oftedal, as the Zoo's animal nutritionist, must determine whether the tasty crickets eaten by the Madagascar Day Gecko lizards will cause .bone problems or whether the worms munched on by the New Zealand kiwi birds contain enough vitamin A. Like human nutrition, animal nutrition is drawing increased attention. At stake are the well-being and health of the animals. Some of them are endangered species, many of them are rare. For such animals, zoos may provide the last chance for survival. Money is a factor as well. "The expense of purchasing and transporting animals has made zoos realize that improving animal health can save them a lot of money," Oftedal says. "If a baby bongo antelope-a rare species-died because of malnutrition, it would cost about $30,000 to buy a replacement from another zoo." The consequences of neglecting dietary requirements are sometimes dramatic. Two years ago, five of six newly arrived rare brown pelicans at the National Zoo died suddenly of a vitamin E deficiency. To prevent such disasters, Oftedal has been studying and revising the diets of the animals at the zoo for nearly iwo years. A major problem facing the animals is that of ad­ justing to a new home. "Animals thai have been relocated from another zoo or from their natural habitat sometimes won't eat for days," he says. "So we may have to feed them anything just to get them to eat. After ihat, we worry about a nutritionally balanced diet." Even when a diet seems to be working, it may not provide everything that is needed. Take the case of the purple-faced Langur monkeys from Ceylon. These How can we decide who to vote for?" - Genevieve K. A. - I will answer somewhat enigmatically. It is a matter of how one can look at the problem; as a pessimist or an optimist. A pessimist will see a bottle of fine nectar, for example, as half empty. An optimist, on the other hand, will see the bottle as half full. I hope Genevieve accepts my point. Write to Carl Riblet Jr. at Box 40757, Tucson, Ariz. 85717 with self-addressed, stamped envelope for in­ formation and advice on questions you may have as an elder. All questions will be answered, if possible. No identities will be revealed. Magic ENJOY 2 HOURS OF "MAGIC THRU THE AGES" Eight Outstanding Acts Saturday, Sept. 27 at 2 and 8 p.m. Woodstock Opera House On The City Square Tickets Available At Box Office Now For Rmrvation* Call 338-5300 MATINEE: STUDENTS and SENIOR CITIZENS *2.50 ADULTS *5.00 EVENING ALL TICKETS *5.00 SOPT WATER RENTAL $7.50 ONLY PER MONTH!! •NO installation charge •NEW fully automatic softeners •TWO year option to buy with •FULL rental fee deducted •ONE phone call can answer any questions: CALL 312-259-3393 FOX VALLEY DIVISION lanky, gray-haired monkeys with expressive faces eat high-fiber leaves in the wild and have adapted to this by developing 1 a-'r g e forestomachs where they ferment the leaves. They derive energy from the fermentation. The monkeys survive on the lettuce and kale which ihe zoo feeds them, but the diet probably does not contain all the fiber they need. Commercially prepared bisbiiiis also do not provide enough. The result can be severe gastroin­ testinal disturbances. To resolve the problem and to simplify the feeding requirements, Oftedal is developing a high-fiber monkey biscuit which, he says "may have an impact on many zoos in the coun­ try." Oftedal will probably use a commercial fiber source, such as wheat bran or alfalfa, rather than the gas- producing fiber from cab­ bage and lettuce. "We'll test different products to see which the animals prefer and see which products are most digestible," he says. By analyzing the feces of the animals for fiber content, he will be able to determine how much fiber is being digested in the body. "Many limes it is difficult to tell if the animals are getting the correct nutritional balance," Of­ tedal says, "because, like humans, individual animals can have different needs. But unlike humans, an animal can't tell you if it feels well. And a marginal vitamin deficiency might escape detection initially." Nervous disorders, loss of hair and eye problems are among the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies. The number and health of a zoo denizen's offspring and the health of the animal itself indicate that an animal is getting a well-balanced diet. Si ill, it is often a process of i rial and error for the zoo's curators and keepers. Before Oftedal came to the National zoo, the female Madagascar Day Gecko lizards developed rubbery bones. The zoo pathologist diagnosed a calcium deficiency--'he calcium that the small (about 5 inches in length), bright green lizards needed for their own bodies was being used up in producing eggs. The tons of food needed for i he zoo's animals are ex­ pensive, costing about a quarter of a million dollars annually. In a single year, the animals eat 110,000 pounds of fish, 150 tons of hay, 47,000 pounds of meat, 170,000 rats and mice, 1.1 million crickets and 53,000 eggs, plus tons of bananas, apples, oranges and grain. Sometimes, though, the zoo gets lucky and saves a hefty expense. Last year, the zoo received 88,000 pounds of frozen meat free. The meat had been stolen from army bases and recovered and held in freezers for three YOU CRN BONK it! Pr*s«n»«d by STATEBANK OF RICHMOND mtmbsr F.D.I.C. Q. A friend of mine showed me a newspaper article discussing the shortage of pennies at soma banks. He said the problem was because the value of copper hes gone up enough to meke the coins worth more than their face value. Is this true? A. No. For the copper value of a penny to be worth more than the one-cent face value of the coin, copper prices would have to be higher than $1.50 per pound. In fact, most authorities estimate that when melting, marketing and transportation costs are added the value would have to be from $1.75 to $1.90 per pound before there could be any value in selling pennies for copper content. Your friend was probably partially correct, in that, the temporary upswing in copper prices earlier this year (to just over $1.40 per pound), probably caused some hoarding with an­ ticipation that copper could enjoy a spectacular rise like gold and silver. Since then, however, copper prices have slid back to com­ fortably under the dollar per pound mark and spotty shortages of pennies have all but disappeared. years while court proceedings went on. The meat was damaged by freezer burn and was not fit for human consumption, but it was nutritionally suitable for animals. Oftedal is the first highly irained, full-time animal nutritionist employed by a zoo in this country. He finds his job exciting, but "it's difficult because very little work had been done before me. I'm still scratching the surface of what can be ac­ complished." The zoo is building a laboratory, which should be completed by next year, where Oftedal will be able to do more research analyzing foods, feces and the milks of different animals. He now spends half his time doing research and half working on formulating and analyzing diets of the zoo's animals Originally educated as a human nutritionist, Oftedal carried out graduate studies at the Massachusetts In­ stitute of Technology; that look him to Pakistan to plan nutrition programs there But he found that "dealing with human nutrition is dealing with politics," and he switched to studying animal nutrition at Cornell university. "Since I've always been interested in exotic animals, I'm doing now professionally what I ortce did as a hobby." Cheerful at morn he wakes from short re­ pose, Breathes the keen air, and carols as he goes. -Oliver Goldsmith. WHAT S NEW GOP Hosts Picnic To Meet Candidates For those who would like an opportunity to meet candidates for the Nov. 4 election, the Nunda Town­ ship Republican Central committee will be hosting a picnic at Veteran Acres park, south pavilion, Crystal Lake, Sunday, Sept 28, from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be free pop, beer, prizes, live music and games for the children. This function will provide an opportunity to meet on a one-on-one basis with can­ didates for the Illinois Senate, House of Representatives, county offices and judgeships. Also, there will be a voter registration booth. Everyone is welcome. Work To Revitalize Men's Club Of YMCA The Lake Region YMCA Y's Men's club is having two meetings, Saturday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m. at 7315 South Route 31, Crystal lake, for the purpose of revitalizing the club with 25 new members and to set future meeting dates, times and projects. The Lake Region Y's Men's club was founded in 1967. In 1977 the club allowed women to become active members. With all the work needed at the "Y" when the building expansion nears completion and with the Christmas tree project, more members are needed. The "old timers" wish to take a less active role, but will help guide the newly formed club. The goals of the club are service, fellowship and brotherhood. Members will get a great deal of personal gratification and the satisfaction of doing for the youth, communtiy and your Lake Region YMCA. The professional advisor is Phillip Baaske, program executive of the Lake Region YMCA. Those with questions should call him at 459-4455. INVISIBLE SHIELD Originally developed for air plane windshields and now available for cars It leaves a shield on glass that acts as a water repellent Unless rain is very heavy you won't even need to use the wipers At Auto Stores or write Unelko Corp , 506 Taft Dt*. 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