Does Medicare Cover Telehealth Services?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers many telehealth services, including office visits with primary care doctors and specialists, mental and behavioral health counseling, virtual check-ins, and e-visits. After you meet the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, the same as an in-person visit. Through December 31, 2027, you can receive most telehealth from anywhere, including your own home. Telehealth for mental and behavioral health is covered permanently, with no geographic restrictions and audio-only (phone) visits allowed indefinitely. Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must cover at least what Original Medicare covers, and many add extra telehealth benefits.
What telehealth services does Medicare cover?
Telehealth lets you see a health care provider using a phone or a video connection instead of going to their office. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers a range of these virtual services when they are provided by an eligible doctor or other provider.
Covered telehealth includes both routine and specialty care, so it is not limited to your primary care doctor.
- Office visits with primary care providers and specialists delivered by audio or video
- Mental health and behavioral health therapy and counseling
- Virtual check-ins: brief, real-time conversations with your doctor or certain providers, usually 10 minutes or less
- E-visits: non-face-to-face communication with your provider, usually through an online patient portal
- Certain other services your provider can deliver remotely
How much does a Medicare telehealth visit cost in 2026?
Under Original Medicare, telehealth is paid the same way as an in-person visit. First you must meet the Part B deductible, which is $283 for 2026. After that, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount (coinsurance), and Medicare pays the other 80%.
To have this coverage you also need to be enrolled in Part B and pay its monthly premium. The standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month, though higher earners pay more (IRMAA).
Virtual check-ins and e-visits work the same way: after the Part B deductible you pay 20% coinsurance. For most telehealth services, your out-of-pocket cost is the same as it would be for the same care in person.
- 2026 Part B deductible: $283 per year
- Coinsurance after the deductible: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount
- 2026 standard Part B premium: $202.90 per month (more if IRMAA applies)
Can I get telehealth from home, and what is the Dec 31, 2027 deadline?
For most telehealth (the non-behavioral medical services like a visit with your regular doctor or a specialist), Congress has temporarily lifted the old location rules. Through December 31, 2027, you can receive these telehealth services from anywhere in the U.S., including your own home. You do not have to live in a rural area or travel to a clinic.
This flexibility currently has a sunset date. Unless Congress passes new legislation, after December 31, 2027 the older, narrower rules for non-behavioral telehealth could return, which generally limited where you had to be located to use it.
Audio-only (phone) visits for these non-behavioral services are also allowed through December 31, 2027. After that date, audio-only for non-behavioral care may no longer be permitted unless the law is extended.
Because these dates can change, check Medicare.gov or ask your provider before scheduling a telehealth visit far in advance.
Is telehealth for mental and behavioral health covered permanently?
Yes. Unlike general medical telehealth, telehealth for mental and behavioral health care has permanent rules and no sunset date. You can receive behavioral health care in your own home, and there are no geographic restrictions on where you must be located.
Behavioral and mental health telehealth can also be delivered permanently by audio-only (a regular phone call) if that works better for you, which is helpful if you do not have video or a reliable internet connection.
As with other Part B services, after you meet the Part B deductible you generally pay 20% coinsurance for covered mental health telehealth.
How does telehealth work with Medicare Advantage and Medigap?
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are required to cover at least everything Original Medicare covers, which includes telehealth. Many Advantage plans also offer additional telehealth benefits beyond Original Medicare. Because costs, networks, and rules vary by plan, check your plan's Evidence of Coverage or call the plan to confirm copays and which providers you can see virtually.
If you have Original Medicare, a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy can help pay your share of telehealth costs, such as the 20% Part B coinsurance, and some plans help with the Part B deductible. You are not required to have Medigap to use telehealth, but it can reduce what you pay out of pocket.
- Medicare Advantage: must cover Original Medicare telehealth; many add extras; costs vary by plan
- Original Medicare: Part B deductible, then 20% coinsurance
- Medigap: optional; can cover the 20% coinsurance and, on some plans, the deductible
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be in a rural area to use Medicare telehealth?
Not for most services right now. Through December 31, 2027, you can get most (non-behavioral) telehealth from anywhere, including your home, with no rural or clinic requirement. Telehealth for mental and behavioral health has no geographic restriction on a permanent basis.
Can I do a Medicare telehealth visit by phone instead of video?
For mental and behavioral health, audio-only (phone) visits are permitted permanently. For other (non-behavioral) telehealth, audio-only is allowed through December 31, 2027 unless Congress extends it. Ask your provider whether your visit qualifies for phone-only.
Will a telehealth visit cost the same as an in-person visit?
For most telehealth services under Original Medicare, yes. After you meet the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, just as you would for the same care in person. Medicare Advantage plan costs may differ.
What are virtual check-ins and e-visits?
A virtual check-in is a brief, real-time talk with your doctor or certain providers, usually 10 minutes or less. An e-visit is a non-face-to-face exchange, usually through an online patient portal. Both are covered by Part B; after the deductible you pay 20% coinsurance.
Does Medicare cover telehealth with specialists?
Yes. Part B telehealth includes office visits with both primary care providers and specialists delivered by audio or video, not just your regular doctor.
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Medicare Login Guide is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any government agency. This article is for general information only — confirm current figures and your specific options at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.