Does Medicare Cover Telehealth?

Written by: Adriana Bugarin; Behavioral Health Specialist
Last updated: October 10, 2026
Read time: 5 min

Key points

Through December 31, 2027, Medicare pays for telehealth visits from anywhere in the U.S., including your home. Congress set that date in February 2026.
For most telehealth visits, you pay what you would in person: 20% of Medicare's price after the $283 yearly deductible in 2026.
Mental health visits by video or phone from home are permanent. The rule that you see your provider in person first is waived through December 31, 2027.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) runs Medicare. It says that from January 1, 2028, most other telehealth will again be limited to medical offices in rural areas. Congress can change that.

Yes, for now, Medicare pays for many telehealth visits by video, and some by phone, while you're at home. That runs through December 31, 2027, and mental health visits from home are permanent. If getting to the doctor is hard, a video visit can save you the trip. Congress decides whether the rest goes on after 2027. Ask your doctor's office which visits they offer by video or phone.

Medicare pays for a telehealth visit if

Your provider is enrolled in Medicare and offers telehealth.
During the visit, you're in the U.S.
The service can be done by telehealth, as office visits, therapy and many checkups can.

Not sure Medicare will pay? Ask anyway, because your doctor's office can tell you which visits work by video or phone. If you would rather have help, a Pair Team advocate can help you set it up.

What is temporary and what is permanent

Telehealth rule	Through December 31, 2027	Starting January 1, 2028, unless Congress acts
Visits from home for physical health, like a diabetes or blood pressure check	Covered anywhere in the U.S.	Generally only in a rural area, at a medical office
Mental health visits from home	Covered	Still covered. This is permanent
In-person visit before mental health telehealth	Not required	Required, with some exceptions (see below)
Phone-only visits	Allowed for many services	Mental health only, if you cannot or do not want to use video
Physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists	Can see you by telehealth	Can no longer see you by telehealth

How long will Medicare cover telehealth from home?

Medicare will cover telehealth from home through December 31, 2027, under today's law. CMS confirmed it in guidance updated October 8, 2026.

These rules started in 2020, during COVID-19, and Congress has extended them several times since. They lapsed when the government shut down on October 1, 2025. Congress brought them back on November 12, 2025, and back-dated them, KFF reports. KFF is a health policy research group. The latest extension, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, became law on February 3, 2026.

Bills to make these rules permanent haven't passed, so ask your doctor what changes for you.

What do I pay for a telehealth visit?

For most telehealth visits, you pay the same as an office visit, Medicare.gov says. In 2026 that's 20% of Medicare's price after the $283 deductible. That's the yearly deductible for Part B, the part of Medicare that pays for doctor visits.

Two shorter kinds of contact cost the same 20% after the deductible:

A virtual check-in is a short call or video, usually 10 minutes or less, to decide if you need an office visit. You must agree to it first.
An e-visit is a message to your provider through an online patient portal.

Some preventive care can be done by video and still cost $0, like your yearly wellness visit. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program is one of the Medicare Savings Programs. If you have it, providers can't bill you for the 20%.

Can I have a telehealth visit by phone only?

Yes, you can have a phone-only visit for many services through December 31, 2027. After that, phone-only visits from home stay allowed for mental health care, CMS says. That's if you can't use video or don't want to.

Do I need to see my therapist in person?

You don't need to see your therapist in person through December 31, 2027. Starting in 2028, the law requires an in-person visit within 6 months before your first mental health video visit. After that, you need one every 12 months.

If you start mental health telehealth on or before December 31, 2027, you won't need that first visit, CMS says. You'll still need one in-person visit every 12 months after 2027. See what Medicare pays for therapy and counseling.

Does Medicare Advantage cover telehealth?

Yes, Medicare Advantage covers telehealth, and plans may offer more than Original Medicare. Some plans let you get services from home no matter where you live, Medicare.gov says. Plans may also keep covering some telehealth after 2027, KFF says. Call the number on your plan card to ask what yours covers and what you pay.

How to get a telehealth visit

Ask your doctor's office which care they offer by video or phone, so you know your options.
Ask about cost: "Do you accept Medicare assignment?" That keeps your share to the 20%.
Find someone new if you need to. A doctor's profile on Medicare's Care Compare tool shows if they offer telehealth. See how to find a doctor who takes Medicare.
Get set up with a smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera, or a phone for phone visits. If internet costs too much, see help paying for a phone or internet.
Expect a question about virtual check-ins, because your provider needs your spoken OK first. One OK can cover a year.

What a Pair Team advocate does

People who call us about video visits often need help with the phone or tablet. Some also need a ride for the visits that must be in person. This is what we do:

Find a doctor or therapist who takes Medicare and offers video or phone visits.
Help you get ready for a video visit at home, and try it out before the day.
Help you apply for a discount on phone or internet service.
Help with what usually comes with it: rides to in-person visits, food, utilities and housing.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

Can I use telehealth when I travel?

Yes, you can use telehealth when you travel inside the U.S., through December 31, 2027. Your provider usually must be licensed in the state where you are during the visit, KFF says. Ask before you travel.

Can I see a physical therapist by video?

Yes, you can see a physical therapist by video through December 31, 2027. Physical, occupational and speech therapists lose that option on January 1, 2028, unless Congress acts, CMS says. See what Medicare pays for physical therapy.

Can I get help for drinking or drug use by telehealth?

Yes, you can get help for drinking or drug use by telehealth. Telehealth for substance use care from home is permanent, in cities and rural areas, CMS says. See what Medicare pays for alcohol and drug treatment.