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'Seinfeld' could join list of shows getting a reboot
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Jerry Seinfeld, left, and Jessica Seinfeld attend age GOOD+ Foundation 2nd Annual Halloween Bash at The Culver Studios on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Culver City, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) - photo by Herb Scribner
Jerry Seinfeld isnt saying no to a Seinfeld reboot.

The comedian appeared on Ellen last week and answered questions about whether he would bring back the famous NBC sitcom, saying that "it's possible."

Seinfeld told "Entertainment Tonight" last year that the idea of a Seinfeld reboot didnt excite him.

"Maybe it's nice that you continue to love it instead of us tampering with something that went pretty well," he explained.

The idea of a "Seinfeld" reunion has been circulating for several years, as the subject became a storyline in a 2009 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, an HBO show led by "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David.

Seinfeld episodes are currently available for streaming on Hulu.

If Seinfeld were to return, it would join a growing list of old shows returning to national television.

Last year, the NBC sitcom Will and Grace returned to the station, and it has already been renewed for a second season.

Similarly, NBC announced last year it was in talks to bring back The Office for the 2018-19 TV season with both new and old characters. Steve Carell, who played the famous Michael Scott, would reportedly not be involved, and John Krasinski, who played Jim on the show, recently said he hadnt been asked to return either.

Like Seinfeld, Jennifer Aniston said she doesnt think a Friends reboot will ever happen but is open to the possibility.

Anything is a possibility, Ellen, she said on Ellen, according to US Weekly. Anything! Right? I mean, George Clooney got married! Thats like anything can happen. I think its wonderful.

Similarly, ABC announced it is bringing back Roseanne, the sitcom starring Roseanne Barr and John Goodman, beginning March 27.

The revival ignited some controversy, as Barr, who admitted shes a President Donald Trump supporter, said that her character on the show will support the president. Fans of Last Man Standing the Tim Allen sitcom that was canceled last year spoke out in protest since they believed Last Man Standing was shut down for its conservative values, according to the Deseret News.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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