DEAD OR ALIVE

A Bronx man lost his Medicaid benefits and had his credit cards canceled and his tax payments rejected after a hospital mistakenly declared him dead. Juan Antonio Arias, 57, insists he’s alive, despite a death certificate filed four years ago that bears his name, Social Security number, and date of birth. No government agency or bank will believe him, so Arias filed a lawsuit demanding reinstatement of his living status.