THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 20, 2026 Page 9 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 8 ed local artisans off ering a variety of exquisite, handcrafted items. Shoppers will fi nd unique gifts for birthdays, Mother’s and Father’s Day and anniversaries, or special touches for the home. Visitors are invited to enjoy refreshments from the snack bar and a special 11 a.m. appearance by musician Chris D’Agostino, a Boston-based singer-songwriter, keyboardist and guitarist. He covers musical genres across various decades: rock, pop, soul and folk. Children ages 10 and under may register from 12:15 p.m.-12:45 p.m. to participate in a 1:00 p.m. Easter egg hunt. Coach T’s spring track program Plans are in the works for the Saugus Sachems Youth Spring Track Program for 2026. Here’s the basic information. Who: Grades K-6th. Where: Belmonte Track. When: 4:00-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays – May 19-June 11. This program is geared toward new track and fi eld athletes. It will prepare them for the larger-scale summer camp. Cost: $150 fi rst year, $75 if returning. For any questions, further information or to register, please contact Coach Christopher Tarantino (Coach T) at 781854-6778 or christophertarantino24@gmail.com Sa nr Sa a y Senior Seni 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 Benefi ciary Dear Benefi ciary, It a great question. While origCAR LOAN INTEREST DEDUCTION I ncluded as part of the Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress on July 4, 2025, was a provision in the tax code allowing for a deduction for certain car loan interest. The deduction is limited to $10,000 for qualifying new car loans for cars purchased in 2025 through 2028. The new car must be assembled in the United States. This deduction is based on the personal use percentage. You do not have to use the new car 100% of the time for personal use in order to claim this deduction. This deduction can be taken even if you claim a standard deduction and do not itemize your deductions. It is a below the line deduction similar to the “no tax on overtime” deduction, the “no tax on tips” deduction and the “no tax on social security” deduction. The car loan must originate after December 31, 2024 and must be secured by the new car. The loan must be taken out to purchase the new car. The new car must also have inal 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 serlender should provide you with a statement reporting the interest paid on the car loan for calendar year 2025. If you use the new car for personal use for 50% of the time, you can claim 50% of the interest paid on Schedule 1-A. The interest expense attributed to the other 50% that you use the car for business purposes would be deductible on Schedule C, Profi t or Loss a gross vehicle weight of less than 14,000 pounds. A full deduction can be taken for a single fi ler with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) less than $100,000 and for joint fi lers with MAGI less than $200,000. Once your income exceeds these thresholds, the deduction begins to be phased out. It is completely phased out for a single fi ler once MAGI reaches $150,000 and for joint fi lers once MAGI reaches $250,000. The deduction is claimed on Schedule 1-A of Form 1040. You should include the vehicle identifi cation number. Your From Business. The vehicle identification number is located on the title of the vehicle and is on the car registration form as well. It is also located on the driver’s side door or on the driver’s side of the dashboard. You will need to insert the VIN number in order to claim the deduction in Part IV, on line 22a of Schedule 1-A. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certifi ed Public Accountant, Certifi ed Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. vices 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 benefi ts. 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, fi llings, 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 fi nd 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 benefi ciaries 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 questions or comments to questions@savvysenior. org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nior ior
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