Here's the short version. Yes, Medicare covers telehealth. Part B covers certain telehealth services. Through December 31, 2027, you can get covered telehealth services from anywhere in the U.S., including your home. Visits usually happen by video, and in some cases by phone only. After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. For most telehealth services, that is the same amount you'd pay in person. The 2027 date is set by law, so this page also explains what to watch for as it gets closer.
What counts as telehealth
Telehealth means medical or health services you get from a provider who is somewhere else in the U.S., using audio and video technology, or audio-only communication in some cases. That can be your phone or a computer. Medicare also covers two lighter-touch options:
- E-visits. Non-face-to-face communication that usually happens through an online patient portal.
- Virtual check-ins. Brief, real-time communication with your provider that usually lasts 10 minutes or less.
What Medicare covers by telehealth
Telehealth can provide many services that usually happen in person, including office visits, psychotherapy, and consultations. Examples of Medicare-covered telehealth services include:
- Advance care planning
- Cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services
- Caregiver training services
- Cognitive assessments
- Depression screenings
- Diabetes self-management training and medical nutrition therapy
- Outpatient psychotherapy
- Speech therapy
Medicare may cover more telehealth services than these. Check with your doctor or other provider about which of your services can happen by telehealth. CMS adds or removes services from the official telehealth list each January 1, through the yearly physician fee schedule rule. So the list can change from year to year.
Where you can be during the visit
Through December 31, 2027, Medicare covers telehealth services you get from anywhere in the U.S., including your home. You do not have to drive to a clinic to connect with a provider somewhere else. Your provider must be located in the U.S. too. Medicare does not generally cover care outside the country, and that includes video visits with a provider abroad. See Medicare and travel.
What you pay
After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for your doctor's or other provider's services. For most telehealth services, you pay the same amount you would have paid for the same service in person. A video visit is not a discount, and it is not a surcharge. If you have a Medigap policy that pays your Part B coinsurance, it applies to telehealth the same way. Your exact cost can depend on other insurance you have, how much the provider charges, whether they accept assignment, and the type of facility. Our costs guide explains those terms.
Medicare Advantage and other plans
Medicare Advantage plans, and some providers in Original Medicare, may offer more telehealth benefits than the basic coverage in Original Medicare. For example, you may be able to get some services from home no matter where you live. If your Original Medicare provider takes part in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), ask them what telehealth benefits may be available. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, check the plan's telehealth rules and copays, since they can differ from Original Medicare.
Therapy and mental health by telehealth
Outpatient psychotherapy is on Medicare's list of covered telehealth services. Through December 31, 2027, you can get it from home, and in some cases by phone only. Our guide to Medicare and mental health care covers which providers you can see, what you pay, and how inpatient care works.
What happens after December 31, 2027
The "anywhere, including your home" rule has an end date written into it. That date is set by law, and Congress can change it. What we can say for sure is what Medicare.gov says today: the broad coverage runs through December 31, 2027. CMS keeps a Telehealth FAQ that it updates as rules change; the current version is dated February 26, 2026. As the date gets closer, ask your provider whether your visits can continue by telehealth, and check Medicare.gov's telehealth page for the latest rule. Our policy and rule changes page tracks updates like this one.
Common questions
Can I have a Medicare telehealth visit from home?
Yes. Through December 31, 2027, Medicare covers telehealth services you get from anywhere in the U.S., including your home.
Does a phone call count, or does it have to be video?
Telehealth uses audio and video technology, or audio-only communication in some cases. Ask your provider whether your specific service can be done by phone alone.
Do I pay less for a video visit?
Usually not. For most telehealth services, you pay the same amount you would pay in person: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible.
Will Medicare still cover telehealth in 2028?
As of this writing, Medicare.gov says the anywhere-including-home coverage runs through December 31, 2027. The date is set by law and could change. Check Medicare.gov or ask your provider as the date approaches.
Related pages
- Medicare Part B — what medical insurance covers and how the 20% rule works.
- Does Medicare Cover Therapy and Mental Health Care? — including therapy by video or phone.
- Coverage Basics — how the parts of Medicare fit together.
- Understanding Your Costs — deductibles, coinsurance, and assignment.
- Medicare Advantage — how plan rules differ from Original Medicare.
Official sources: Medicare.gov: Telehealth and CMS.gov: Telehealth.