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4B Daily News – Friday, April 12, 2013 FEATURES Uncle worries about 'flower child's' kids Breast feeding helps for a while and the boys will Dear Annie: My sister, adjust. I think my nephews ''Suzie,'' has always been a are being neglected. She's bit of a flower child, and my leaving the boys with me for parents think it's funny. two weeks this summer, and Suzie dropped out of high I'm tempted to have Child school to pursue her Protective Services evaluate ''career'' in something — them. My wife agrees. My art, music, dance, yoga, parents don't. I'm scared whatever. I usually gave her a place to stay when she got Annie's Suzie will bolt with the kids if she gets wind of my suspievicted and didn't want our cions. She's done it before. parents to know, which was by Kathy Mitchell I want the best for my pretty often. Suzie and her husband and Marcy Sugar nephews. How do I go about it? — W.C. (I'm not sure whether Dear W.C.: Don't wait until they're legally married) have been better since my nephews were born. summer. Call Child Protective SerWhat concerns me is that she won't vices anonymously, and ask them to take the kids to the doctor when investigate the home environment they get sick. She just gives them now. (You need not inform your some herbal remedy and sends them parents.) CPS may determine that to bed. The boys aren't very clean, the kids are in a loving, healthyoften have the sniffles and are enough environment, in which case, almost always in clothing that's the please stop trying to wrest control wrong size. Suzie is homeschooling from Suzie, and concentrate instead the boys, even though neither she on making your home a safe, stable nor her husband graduated high place for your nephews. And if CPS school. My oldest nephew is 7 and determines that the kids need to be cannot read, count to 10 or say his removed from Suzie's care, we hope you will offer to take them. ABCs. Dear Annie: My wife and I Suzie insists that the children be fed only vegan and organic prod- recently went out for dinner with ucts. When the boys stay with us, her parents, who are healthy which is fairly often lately, we feed active seniors. Upon being seated, them healthy balanced meals that they spent the entire evening comthey wolf down like they're starv- menting on others. Engaging ing. The oldest boy told me they them in conversation was imposusually eat oatmeal with some sible. Every time we've gone out with peanut butter in it. I believe both her parents, they have complained boys are anemic. The family has, on occasion, afterward: The restaurant was too lived in their car. Suzie recently said noisy, crowded, hot, cold, drafty, they are going to ''live on the road'' dark, the portions were too small, Mailbox cold, spicy, the service was slow, the seating was uncomfortable, etc. I don't know why they bother dining out when they never seem to enjoy it. I find their behavior rude and insulting and have told my wife not to expect my attendance at any future restaurant meals. She thinks I am being unreasonable, that that is just ''who they are.'' I realize they are not going to change, but after nearly 20 years of this, I say count me out. Any suggestions? — At My Wits' End Dear Wits' End: These are your wife's parents. Please be more tolerant, although you don't need to punish yourself. For your wife's sake, be willing to endure their ''company'' a few times a year. You can decline the rest of the time. Dear Annie: Bravo to ''Frustrated Viewer in Canada'' for complaining about the TV networks playing music over the dialogue and the actors who mumble and talk with their backs to the camera. Producers might be interested to know that a lot of us have gone back to reading books instead of watching the programs we used to enjoy. — Nancy Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Get what you need from your Medicare drug plan Is there anything you can do if your Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plan refuses to pay for a drug you need? What if you think you shouldn't be paying as much for a certain drug? In both of these cases, you as a Medicare beneficiary have the right to formally request that your Part D plan cover your drug or charge you less. This is called filing for an exception. You can ask for an exception if: * You or your prescriber (a doctor or other health care provider who is legally allowed to write prescriptions) believes you need a drug that isn't on your plan's list of covered drugs, or formulary; * You think you should pay less for a higher-tier (more expensive) drug because you or your prescriber believes you can't take any of the lower-tier (less expensive) drugs for the same condition; * You or your prescriber believes that a coverage rule (like prior authorization) should be waived. If you request an exception, your prescriber must provide a statement explaining the medical reason why the exception should be approved. Even before you buy a given drug, you have the right to ask for an exception. You also have the right to get a written explanation (called a "coverage determination") from your Medicare drug plan. A coverage determination is the first decision made by your drug plan (not the pharmacy) about your benefits. It says whether a certain drug is covered, whether you've met the requirements to get a requested drug, how much you pay for a drug, and whether an exception will be made to a plan rule when you request it. You or your prescriber must contact your plan to ask for a coverage determination or an exception. If your network pharmacy can't fill a prescription, the pharmacist will give you a notice that explains how to contact your drug plan so you can make your request. If the pharmacist doesn't give you this notice, ask for a copy. You or your prescriber may make a standard request by phone or in writing, if you're asking for prescription drug benefits you haven't gotten yet. If you're asking to get paid back for drugs you already bought, your plan can require you or your and speaking to the Grievance Departprescriber to ment. Or you make the stancan write down dard request in the details of writing. your complaint You or your and mail or fax prescriber also it to your plan. can call or write It's best to your plan for an file a written expedited (fast) grievance and request. keep a copy for Your request your own will be expedited records. Use if you haven't certified mail gotten the preDavid when sending scription and your written your plan detergrievance to mines, or your confirm that prescriber tells your plan, that your life or your plan received it. File your grievance health may be at risk by within 60 days of the waiting. For more information event that led to your disabout the different levels satisfaction. Your plan of appeals in a Medicare must investigate and drug plan, visit respond to your grievance www.medicare.gov/publi- within 30 days, or 24 cations to view the book- hours if the grievance is urgent. let "Medicare Appeals." You can check the staYou can also call 1800-MEDICARE (1-800- tus of your complaint by 633-4227) and ask for a calling the plan or by callcopy to be mailed to you. ing 1-800-MEDICARE. TTY users should call 1David Sayen is 877-486-2048. regional What if you're unsatis- Medicare's for fied with your Part D plan administrator Arizona, because of poor customer California, service or some other Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Trust Territories. problem? You can file a formal You can always get complaint, also known as answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1a grievance. You can file a griev- 800-MEDICARE (1-800ance by calling your plan 633-4227). Sayen Mountain bike race in Redding The Annual Lemurian Shasta Classic Mountain Bike Race will be held at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area near Redding on Saturday, April 27. The parking lot at Whiskeytown Lake's Brandy Creek Marina will be the start/finish area for the event. On-site registration and check-in will begin at 7 a.m. and the race will start at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is available at www.active.com Spectators and supporters of the racers/riders are welcome to attend the event. Founded in 1987, the Lemurian Shasta Classic Mountain Bike Race is renowned for its epic loop, huge climbs and long, difficult, technical descents. The race will feature a 26+ mile challenging Long Course, a 20-mile Intermediate Course, and an 8-mile Short Course. Cash prizes and medals will be awarded to winners in the Long Course Pro category, and medals will be awarded in the Intermediate and Short Courses to the top three winners in each age group. All racers will receive a pin for completing the race and a post-race meal. The HELP WANTED AUTO ROUTE DRIVER WANTED Red Bluff Area Must be 21 or older & bondable. Call or apply in person Circulation Dept. Red Bluff Daily News (530) 527-2151 ext 128 DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY event also features generous prizes in post-race raffle drawings. Last year the Lemurian Shasta Classic drew more than 380 mountain bike racers – close to the maximum 400 racers permitted, with most racers competing in the challenging 26mile course. In addition to the event's direct contribution to the local economy, proceeds from the 2013 event were donated to local nonprofit agencies, including the Old Shasta Volunteer Fire Department, Shasta County Search and Rescue, Sheriff's Explorers, Sheriff's Reserve Deputies and the Friends of Whiskeytown. The last opportunity to register for the race will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. Race organizers will be available at Round Table Pizza, 3633 Eureka Way, Redding. For more details, including registration information, visit www.shastalemurian.com. protect babies the nutrients a DEAR DOCbaby needs for TOR K: What are normal growth. the benefits of Millions of perbreast-feeding? fectly healthy And if I do decide babies have been to breast-feed, raised on bottled how will I know if infant formula. my baby is getting If you do enough milk? Dr. K decide to breastDEAR READby Anthony L. feed, it can be ER: Breast milk provides all the Komaroff, M.D. hard to judge how much milk your calories and nutrients that a baby needs for baby takes in at each feedthe first six months of life. ing. But there are several It also helps protect babies signs that your baby is from illnesses such as ear getting enough milk: — Wet diapers. Your infections, lung infections, vomiting and diar- baby should have at least rhea. That's because for one to two wet diapers for the first months of life, a the first two days. After baby's immune system is that, your baby should not fully developed. have four to six wet diaBreast milk contains anti- pers per day. — Stools. During the bodies that the mother has made, plus several other first week, your baby infection-fighting sub- should have two or more stools per day. After that, stances and cells. There is some evidence the number of stools that breast milk may also should increase to four or help protect against sud- more per day. — Milk supply. Two to den infant death syndrome, although why that four days after delivery, your milk should "come might be so is not clear. Babies of mothers who in." Your breasts will feel breast-feed are somewhat larger, firmer and warmer less likely to develop obe- as they fill with milk before sity, cancer, heart disease each feeding. They'll get and Type 1 diabetes when smaller and softer after your baby has nursed. they become adults. — Feedings. Your baby Please don't misunderstand: I'm not saying that should feed at least eight babies who bottle-feed times every 24 hours. will get these diseases, Most newborns nurse just that breast-feeding every one and a half to may slightly reduce the three hours. After feeding, risk that babies will devel- your baby should seem op these diseases when satisfied and will probably fall asleep. they become adults. — Weight. After the Breast milk is easier for babies to digest than for- first week of life, your mula. Exclusively breast- newborn should steadily feeding for the first six gain weight. If one or more of these months may help prevent food allergies. Breast- signs indicate that your feeding also may help baby might not be getting with brain development enough milk, talk to your pediatrician. and learning. There are also practical Dr. Komaroff is a advantages to breast-feeding. It's convenient, costs physician and professor Harvard Medical less than formula and does at School. To send not need to be prepared. go to That being said, some questions, or women choose not to AskDoctorK.com, breast-feed for medical or write: Ask Doctor K, 10 personal reasons. Infant Shattuck St., Second formula does contain all Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Tips for last-minute filers In the wake of the fiscal cliff negotiations, the Internal Revenue Service delayed the start of tax filing season until January 30 of this year. Some taxpayers faced further delays in filing, however, including those who claimed residential energy credits or whose returns involved property depreciation or general business credits. With or without delays, there are always those who end up filing their taxes at the last minute. The California Society of CPAs (CalCPA.org) offers these tips for people who are scrambling to get their returns in by the April deadline. Don't Panic Even if you've been putting off filing your return, you can still get it in on time. Take that important first step: locate all the documents you need and organize your paperwork Sometimes that can be the hardest part. Check Your Facts It's much more stressful to get your return done in a hurry, and errors may creep in if you're rushing. Take extra care to double check your figures and confirm that your Social Security number and other data on your return are correct. Go Electronic Instead of standing in long lines at the post office, taxpayers can take advantage of the opportunity to file their returns electronically. According to the IRS, nearly 100 million taxpayers used the e-file option last year. You can use the IRS Free File system or ask your CPA to prepare and file your return electronically for you. Talk to an Expert Speaking of your CPA, if you are running behind and don't usually use a tax preparer, this may be the year to put a CPA's expertise to work for you. Your CPA can quickly tell you what paperwork you need and make sense of your tax situation, taking this burden off your shoulders. Get It Done Keep in mind that if your return is late and you owe taxes, you could face interest and penalties that can really add up. If you don't file a return at all, the IRS can assess tax based on the information it has—which may not include exemptions or deductions you deserve—and begin a collection process. Even if it will take a lot of effort to get your return done on time, it's definitely worth it. Consider an Extension If you can't file your return on time, you may be eligible for a six-month extension of the due date, but keep in mind that you must still properly estimate the amount you will owe and pay that amount by the regular deadline. If you don't, you may be subject to interest and penalties. File Even if You Can't Pay If you've been putting off filing because you don't have the money you owe, don't fail to send in your return. The IRS offers payment plans to eligible taxpayers who can't pay their taxes all at once.