Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 20, 2026 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller What Medicare Won’t Pay For in 2026 Dear Savvy Senior, To avoid any future health care surprises, can you tell me what original Medicare doesn’t cover in 2026? New Beneficiary Dear Beneficiary, It a great question. While original Medicare (Part A and B) covers a wide array of health care services after you turn 65, it doesn’t cover everything. If you need or want certain services that aren’t covered, you’ll have to pay for them yourself unless you have other insurance, or you enroll in a Medicare Advantage health plan, which may provide some additional benefits. Here’s a look at some commonly needed medical services that original Medicare doesn’t pick up the tab for. Most dental care: Routine dental care including checkups, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, root canals, tooth extractions and dentures are not covered by original Medicare. Routine vision care: Medicare does not cover routine eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses (except following cataract surgery), but tests, treatments and surgeries for medical eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration are covered. Hearing aids: Original Medicare will not pay for hearing exams or hearing aids but may cover a hearing and balance exam if your doctor determines it’s necessary. Prescription drugs: Medicare (Part A and B) doesn’t provide coverage for outpatient prescription drugs, but you can buy a separate Part D prescription-drug policy that does. Alternative medicine: Acupuncture (except to treat low back pain), chiropractic services (except to correct a vertebral subluxation of the spine), and other types of alternative or complementary care are not covered by Medicare. Cosmetic surgery: Most cosmetic procedures are not covered, however, if the surgery is due to an injury or deformity, it might pay. For example, Medicare will cover a breast prosthesis for breast cancer survivors. Foot care: Medicare does not cover most routine foot care, like the cutting or removing of corns, calluses and toenails. But they do cover medically necessary podiatrist services for foot problems like hammertoes, bunion and heel spurs, along with exams, treatments and therapeutic shoes or inserts if you have diabetic foot problems. Long-term care: Nursing home care and assisted living facilities are not covered by Medicare. But Medicare will help pay up to 100 days of skilled nursing or rehabilitation care immediately following a hospital stay of three or more days. Personal home care: If you need to hire help for bathing, dressing or getting out of bed, Medicare typically won’t cover these costs either, unless you are homebound and are also receiving skilled nursing care. Housekeeping services, such as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning are not covered either unless you are receiving hospice care. Adult diapers: Medicare does not cover the cost of adult diapers or other incontinence supplies. These items are considered to be for personal hygiene rather than medical treatment. Overseas coverage: In most cases, health care outside of the United States is not covered by Medicare except for very limited circumstances – such as on a cruise ship within six hours of a U.S. port. The best way to find out what original Medicare covers is to talk to your health care provider, visit Medicare.gov/coverage and type in your test, item or service, or download the Medicare “What’s covered” app on the App Store or Google Play. Also keep in mind that even if Medicare covers a service or item, they don’t pay 100 percent of the cost. You will have to pay a monthly Part B premium (which is $202.90 for most beneficiaries in 2026) and unless you have supplemental insurance, you’ll have to pay your annual deductibles and copayments too. However, most preventive services are covered 100 percent by Medicare with no copays or deductibles. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. What author born in Malden wrote over 80 works starting with “The Case of the…”? 2. Jiminy Cricket sang “When You Wish Upon a Star” in what 1940 film based on an Italian children’s novel? 3. On Feb. 20, 1902, what photographer of the American West and environmentalist was born? 4. In what 1968 movie is the leader of the bad guys called His Blueness? 5. What kind of containers did Native Americans use to harvest maple sap? 6. On Feb. 21, 1931, Alka Seltzer was introduced; it was inspired by a combination of aspirin and what baking ingredient? 7. In what Steinbeck novel would you find the Joad family? 8. In 1916, in Mayfield, N.Y., the gooseneck system of harvesting what was patented? 9. On Feb. 22, 1732, what president was born who was a surveyor? 10. In what sport are the terms MFH, whipper-in and gone to ground? 11. What is bloatware? 12. On Feb. 23, 1936, the first U.S. mail delivery by what method was made? 13. What was the name of Our Gang’s dog: Max, Pete or Pluto? 14. In 1925 what Turkish hat (same name as a Moroccan city) was outlawed? 15. On Feb. 24, 1938, DuPont started producing nylon toothbrush bristles; what fiber type had been used? 16. How did NYC’s Wall Street (once known as “the Belt”) get its name? 17. What kind of animal is an argonaut (also called paper nautilus)? 18. On Feb. 25, 1908, what tunnel (now to be reconstructed) between Manhattan and Hoboken opened? 19. What pair starred in “The Big Sleep,” “Key Largo” and “To Have and Have Not”? 20. On Feb. 26, 1954, a Quincy newspaper became the first in the U.S. to use what? ANSWERS 1. Erle Stanley Gardner 2. “Pinocchio” 3. Ansel Adams 4. “Yellow Submarine” (Its Blue Meanies are the bad guys.) 5. Birch bark 6. Baking soda 7. “The Grapes of Wrath” 8. Maple sap (“a metal gravity-fed pipeline system”) 9. George Washington 10. Fox hunting (meaning Master of Fox Hounds, a hunt assistant, and the fox is hiding in the earth, respectively) 11. Pre-installed computer software that is unwanted 12. Rocket/parachute mail 13. Pete 14. Fez (The “Hat Law” was created to emulate modern style, but it has not been enforced.) 15. Reportedly, neck hair from wild pigs in China, Poland and Siberia 16. In the 1600s a wooden palisade and a path were built between the Hudson and East Rivers to protect from attacks; the wall was torn down but the path became Wall Street. 17. Octopus 18. Hudson River Tunnel 19. Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart 20. Photo engraving (typesetting)
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