Does insurance still pay for telehealth?
✅ Yes, most health insurance plans still cover and pay for telehealth services.
✅ Major Insurance Types and Telehealth Coverage
- Original Medicare:
- Covers a wide range of telehealth services from home through December 31, 2027.
- Includes video and audio-only options for mental health and routine visits.
- Costs 20% coinsurance after meeting the Part B deductible.
- Medicaid:
- Covered in all states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
- Rules, approved services, and phone-only policies vary by state.
- Private & Commercial Insurance:
- Most state laws require private insurers to cover telehealth like in-person care.
- Many plans enforce "coverage parity," meaning they cannot deny a claim solely because it was virtual.
- Cost-sharing (copays or coinsurance) usually matches in-person visits.
⚠️ Hidden Costs and Rules to Watch
- Deductibles & Copays: You may still owe a copay, coinsurance, or deductible just like an office visit.
- Platform Restrictions: Some insurance plans only cover virtual care through specific apps or preferred vendor networks.
- Referrals & Authorization: If your specific plan requires a referral for an in-person specialist, it applies to telehealth too.
Will Medicare coverage of telehealth be extended to 2026?
Yes, Medicare coverage of telehealth has been extended through December 31, 2027, by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148), which was signed into law on February 3, 2026.
Key Details of the Extension
- Duration: COVID-19 pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities are active through the end of 2027.
- Location: Beneficiaries can continue receiving covered telehealth services from their homes without geographic restrictions.
- Providers: Expanded provider types—including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists—remain eligible to deliver telehealth.
- Audio-Only: Audio-only platforms remain authorized for non-behavioral and behavioral health services where video is not feasible.
For official guidance and policy breakdowns, visit the Telehealth Policy Updates on Telehealth.HHS.gov.
Are insurances still paying for telehealth?
Yes, most major health insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, and private plans still pay for telehealth services.
Medicare and Medicaid
- Original Medicare: Covers many virtual care and telehealth services from a patient's home through December 31, 2027, following federal legislative extensions.
- Medicaid: Telehealth is covered across every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, though specific rules and eligible service types depend heavily on your local state guidelines.
Private and Commercial Insurance
- Coverage Mandates: Forty-one states and the District of Columbia enforce "coverage parity" laws, which legally require private health insurance plans to cover telehealth services if they cover the same services in person.
- Payment Rates: Only 22 states require "payment parity," meaning insurers must pay doctors the exact same rate for a virtual visit as an in-person one. Other states leave reimbursement amounts up to direct contracts between insurance companies and medical providers.
What You Will Pay
- Copays and Deductibles: You typically owe the same copay, coinsurance, or deductible for a virtual visit that you would pay for an office visit.
- Plan Restrictions: Insurers may require you to use specific software platforms, apps, or in-network virtual doctors to guarantee full coverage.
How much is a telehealth visit out of pocket?
An out-of-pocket telehealth visit typically costs between $40 and $100 for a general medical or urgent care consultation, with a national median price of around $82.
However, the exact amount you pay depends heavily on the medical specialty, the specific provider platform, and whether you are using health insurance or a subscription plan.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Comparison
| Service Type | Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Medical / Urgent Care | $40 – $100 | Covers minor acute issues like cold/flu, UTIs, and simple refills. |
| Dermatology | $80 – $130 | Often handled via a photo review or specialized visual assessment. |
| Therapy / Psychology | $85 – $185 | Usually bills per 25-minute or 50-minute session. |
| Psychiatry (Initial) | $200 – $300 | Initial psychiatric evaluations require longer, more complex sessions. |
Pricing Models Among Major Platforms
- Pay-Per-Visit: You pay a flat rate up front for a single consultation. Examples include Sesame Care (starting around $34), Teladoc Health ($89 for urgent care), CVS MinuteClinic Virtual Care ($89), and Doctor On Demand ($99).
- Membership Model: Platforms like PlushCare charge a recurring monthly subscription fee (e.g., ~$20/month) plus a smaller fee or copay per individual visit. This structure can save money if you require frequent appointments throughout the year.
How Insurance Affects Out-of-Pocket Costs
- In-Network Plans: If you have health insurance, a virtual visit will often only cost you your standard office copay, which can range from $0 to $30.
- High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs): If you have insurance but have not yet met your annual deductible, the provider will bill your insurer first. You will then be responsible for the insurer's negotiated discounted rate, which can sometimes be higher than the platform's standard cash-pay price (occasionally up to $150–$250). In these scenarios, it is sometimes cheaper to opt out of using insurance and pay the flat self-pay cash rate instead.
- HSA and FSA Eligibility: You can use pre-tax funds from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to cover telehealth out-of-pocket costs.
Note: The visit fee typically covers only the online consultation. Any prescribed medications, laboratory tests, or necessary in-person follow-up care will be billed separately.
Has the telehealth bill passed?
Congress [passed an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027], as part of the [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026], which was signed into law by President Trump in February 2026.
What the Law Does
- Extension Date: Medicare telehealth flexibilities are extended until December 31, 2027.
- Location Rules: Patients can continue to receive non-behavioral telehealth services from their homes without geographic restrictions.
- Audio-Only Care: Audio-only communication platforms remain approved for certain non-behavioral and mental health services.
- Provider Access: Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics can continue serving as distant site providers.
Permanent Policies
- Behavioral and mental health telehealth services through Medicare do not have expiration dates and remain permanently authorized.
- Geographic restrictions for behavioral and mental telehealth originating sites were permanently removed.
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Will Medicare stop covering telehealth visits?
No, Medicare will not stop covering telehealth visits soon, as expanded flexibilities are extended through December 31, 2027.
Current Coverage Details
- Original Medicare covers virtual check-ins, e-visits, and audio/video or audio-only telehealth services from anywhere in the U.S.
- Costs require meeting your Part B deductible, after which you pay 20% of the approved amount.
- Mental Health Care rules allow permanent home-based behavioral telehealth access with no geographic limits.
What Happens Later?
- After 2027: Unless Congress passes a new law, rules will revert.
- Location Limits: You will generally need to travel to a medical facility in a rural area for non-behavioral telehealth care starting January 1, 2028.
What are the five things that Medicare will not cover in 2026?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental care, routine vision care, hearing aids, long-term custodial care, and health care received overseas.
Major Uncovered Services in 2026
- Most dental care: Original Medicare does not pay for routine cleanings, checkups, fillings, tooth extractions, root canals, or dentures.
- Routine vision care: Regular eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses are excluded, though treatments for medical eye conditions like cataracts or glaucoma are covered.
- Hearing aids: Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or routine exams used to fit them.
- Long-term care: Extended nursing home care or custodial care (help with daily personal activities like bathing or dressing) is not covered outside of limited short-term skilled nursing rehabilitation.
- Overseas coverage: Medical care received outside of the United States and its territories is generally excluded, with rare exceptions like emergencies on cruise ships close to a U.S. port.
Is it cheaper to go to urgent care or telehealth?
Telehealth is almost always cheaper than visiting an urgent care clinic in person.
Cost Comparison
- Telehealth: A typical virtual visit costs between $40 and $100 out-of-pocket (with a median around $80). Insurance co-pays for virtual care are often $0 to $30.
- Urgent Care: An in-person visit averages $150 to $280 without insurance, and costs can rise quickly if you need on-site tests, X-rays, or physical procedures.
When to Choose Telehealth
- Best for: Minor, straightforward illnesses like pink eye, sinus infections, mild flu symptoms, rashes, or basic prescription refills.
- Why it saves money: You avoid facility fees, separate clinic billing, and travel costs.
When to Choose Urgent Care
- Best for: Issues that require a physical touch, lab swabs (like strep tests), stitches, or X-rays for sprains and broken bones.
- The hidden risk: If you pay for a telehealth visit only to be told you need an in-person test anyway, you may end up paying for both visits.
Is telehealth extended through 2027?
Yes, key Medicare telehealth flexibilities are extended through December 31, 2027.
Overview of the Extension
- Legislation: Congress extended the rules under H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, signed into law on February 3, 2026.
- Duration: The temporary pandemic-era waivers and flexibilities run through the end of 2027.
- Official Guidance: You can review the details on the Telehealth Policy Updates page or read about Medicare Telehealth Insurance Coverage.
Key Rules Through 2027 and Permanent Changes
- Extended Through 2027: Home-based non-behavioral services without geographic restrictions, eligible provider types including FQHCs and RHCs, audio-only platforms for non-behavioral/mental care, and the waiver for in-person requirements prior to telemental health services all continue through 2027.
- Permanent Provisions: Home-based behavioral/mental health services and audio-only behavioral care remain permanent features of Medicare coverage.
How much does Medicare pay for a telehealth visit?
Medicare pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for a covered telehealth visit. For most telehealth services, Medicare reimburses providers at the same rate as an equivalent in-person office visit.
The exact amount Medicare pays depends on the specific service provided, how the doctor codes the visit, and your geographical region. Your layout and costs depend entirely on whether you are on Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan:
Original Medicare (Part B)
If your provider accepts Medicare assignment, the payment breakdown is as follows:
- Medicare Pays: 80% of the standard Medicare-approved amount.
- You Pay: A 20% coinsurance after you meet your annual Part B deductible ($283).
- Location Flexibility: These expanded flexibilities—which allow you to receive covered telehealth visits from your own home rather than traveling to a rural facility—remain fully active through December 31, 2027.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
If you have a private Medicare Advantage plan, your out-of-pocket costs do not strictly follow the 20% rule:
- Reimbursement & Copays: Costs vary widely by insurance company. Many Medicare Advantage plans offer special incentives, such as $0 copays for routine virtual or urgent care visits.
- Network Rules: To ensure the plan pays its share, you generally must use an in-network telehealth provider designated by your insurer.
Pro Tip: Before logging on, call your doctor's office and ask how the virtual appointment will be coded to ensure you don't face unexpected out-of-pocket fees.