Medicare's telehealth coverage looked temporary for years, extended by Congress a few months at a time. That changed in February 2026, when a two-year extension locked coverage in through December 31, 2027.
That's good news if you've gotten used to seeing your doctor by phone or video, but the rules still have real limits. What counts as a covered telehealth visit, what you pay for it, and which visits are covered permanently instead of just through 2027 are three different questions, and mixing them up is how a bill surprises you.
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What Counts as a Covered Telehealth Visit
Medicare covers telehealth visits you get from anywhere in the U.S., including your own home, through December 31, 2027. That covers ordinary office visits and consultations, along with specific services like advance care planning, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, cognitive assessments, diabetes self-management training, and speech therapy.
Mental health care is the exception. Medicare covers telehealth for behavioral and mental health visits on a permanent basis, with no 2027 date attached. That matters if you're weighing whether to keep a therapy appointment virtual long after other telehealth rules might change again.
What a Telehealth Visit Actually Costs
A telehealth visit isn't a discount. After you meet your Part B deductible, you generally pay the same 20% coinsurance of the Medicare-approved amount that you'd pay for the same visit in person.
Your exact cost still depends on your specific plan and whether the visit is billed as video or audio-only, so confirm both before the appointment instead of after the bill arrives.
If you're also trying to find a doctor who still takes new Medicare patients, read Finding a New Primary Care Doctor on Medicare next.
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Ask whether your routine follow-up is billed as telehealth and what you'll owe.
If it's a video visit, log in once beforehand so a tech problem doesn't eat into your appointment time.
Medicare's telehealth rules have changed before. Check medicare.gov if you hear anything about the 2027 date moving.
Save your visit type and what you confirmed so you have it before the appointment.
Getting Ready for a Visit That Still Counts in 2027
None of this means you should put off confirming the details. Congress has let telehealth flexibilities lapse before extending them again, and the current window still has an end date on the calendar even if it's more than a year away.
A short round of prep now means one less thing to track later, and it carries over the next time you book a virtual visit.
If your next visit is a yearly checkup instead of a specific concern, Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit Isn't a Physical explains what that visit actually covers.
Common questions
Does Medicare still cover telehealth visits in 2026 and 2027?
Yes. A law signed in February 2026 extended Medicare's telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027, so visits from anywhere in the U.S., including your home, continue to be covered through that date. Mental health telehealth visits are covered on a permanent basis, with no end date attached.
How much does a Medicare telehealth visit cost?
After you meet your Part B deductible, you generally pay the same 20% coinsurance of the Medicare-approved amount you'd pay for an in-person visit. Confirm with the billing office whether your specific visit is coded the same way, and ask whether an audio-only call changes what you owe.
What Medicare services are covered by telehealth?
Ordinary office visits and consultations are covered, along with services like advance care planning, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, cognitive assessments, diabetes self-management training, and speech therapy. For a new or worsening symptom, ask your provider whether a video visit is appropriate or whether it needs an in-person exam.
