DEAR HELOISE: With all the changes that are being made in health-insurance laws, you never know when you will be required to complete an application for new coverage. Most insurance companies require years of health history.
My hint: Never trash or shred explanation of benefits from your insurance company. These are a time line for when you've had every doctor visit, lab test, ER visit, surgery, etc., and you'll easily be able to list them on the application.
-- Ellen
DEAR READER: A very good idea, and one that is worth doing. It can be bothersome to try to recall all major illnesses, etc. If you receive a quarterly or year-end statement, keep these for several years, just in case. If someone has a serious or ongoing illness, keep the paperwork, even if you need a file box.
DEAR HELOISE: I am curious: When an air bag deploys, what is the powder that gets everywhere?
-- Nancy
DEAR READER: Generally it's just cornstarch or talcum powder so the air bag won't stick together. Some newer bags are manufactured so they don't need the powder.
DEAR HELOISE: For over a week, I was missing my black, small portfolio with important books and documents. After doing a lot of searching in my car and my home, I gave up on it. Today, when I opened the front door, I was surprised to see my missing portfolio on a chair by the door.
With it was a business card from the manager of a restaurant, who must have so kindly dropped it off. I left it while dining, and the manager saw my name and mailing address taped on the portfolio.
It's a good idea to stick a mailing label on cellphones, books, purses, etc., but also to write a phone number in case you leave or lose an item. If you are lucky, a good, honest and thoughtful person like the manager of the restaurant I ate in will contact you.
-- Eloisa
DEAR HELOISE: There are times when I don't have enough ice packs for a cooler or one of the kid's lunches, so I started making my own.
I use my vacuum sealer and cut vacuum bags to the size I need. Depending on how large or small I want to make an ice pack, I put ice cubes in the bag, vacuum-seal it and then let the ice cubes melt. Once melted, I place the flattened bags in the freezer.
-- D.T.
DEAR HELOISE: I have another suggestion after reading your column about substitute zipper pulls. You also could use a paper clip, which you can purchase in different sizes and colors.
-- B.H.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
Style on 09/16/2014