Who is eligible for Medicare telehealth?

Almost all beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B are eligible to receive covered telehealth services.

Eligibility Requirements

• Part B Enrollment: You must be enrolled in Original Medicare Part B (medical insurance), which covers the service after you meet your yearly deductible.
• Covered Services: The specific medical or mental health service must be on the official list of Medicare-approved telehealth services.
• No Location Restrictions: Through December 31, 2027, you can get telehealth services from anywhere in the U.S.—including your own home—with no geographic or rural restrictions.
• Audio-Only Options: Phone calls (audio-only) are allowed if you do not have video technology or do not consent to a video visit, especially for mental health or routine care when eligible.
• Medicare Advantage: If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), it must cover everything Original Medicare does and may offer extra telehealth benefits.

Yes, Medicare still covers telehealth in 2026 because Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, which extended pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027. You can check official details on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Telehealth FAQ.

Key Coverage Details for 2026

• Location: You can receive covered telehealth services from your home anywhere in the United States without geographic restrictions.
• Services: Original Medicare covers routine office visits, mental health counseling, physical therapy, and other medical consultations.
• Audio-Only: Phone-only (audio-only) visits remain covered for many services when you are at home.
• Costs: After you meet your Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, just like an in-person visit.

Medicare has extended expanded telehealth flexibilities, allowing most coverage from your home without geographic restrictions through December 31, 2027.

Temporary Rules Through December 31, 2027

• Location Flexibility: You can get telehealth services from your home or any location in the U.S. and its territories with no geographic limits. You can read more on the official Telehealth policy updates.
• Audio-Only Visits: Phone calls (audio-only) are allowed for both general medical and mental health care.
• Eligible Providers: All eligible Medicare professionals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) can provide distant-site telehealth. Review specifics in the CMS Telehealth FAQ.
• In-Person Visit Rules: You do not need an in-person visit before starting mental health telehealth or for annual check-ins during this extension window.

Permanent Rules for Mental Health

• Home-Based Care: Medicare patients can permanently receive mental health and behavioral care from their homes.
• No Geographic Limits: Originating site geographic rules are permanently removed for mental health services.
• New Providers: Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists are permanent Medicare providers.

Costs and Coverage

• Part B Costs: Telehealth is covered under Part B. After you meet your yearly deductible, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Check details on Telehealth Insurance Coverage.

Original Medicare Part B covers a wide variety of routine, specialist, and mental health telehealth services when provided by an eligible doctor or healthcare professional.

Covered Services

• Office visits: Routine check-ups, consultations, and discussions about test results or medications.
• Mental health care: Outpatient psychotherapy, counseling, and depression screenings.
• Specialty and preventive care: Physical, occupational, and speech therapy, cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation, and medical nutrition therapy.
• Virtual check-ins and E-visits: Short phone interactions or online portal messages with your provider.

Costs and Rules

• Cost: After you meet your Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
• Location and Technology: Through December 31, 2027, you can receive covered telehealth services from your home using audio-video or audio-only (phone) technology with no geographic restrictions.
• Medicare Advantage: Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) cover at least what Original Medicare covers and may offer extra virtual care benefits or lower copays.

Telehealth qualifies when a medically necessary service is provided through interactive, two-way audio and video technology as a substitute for an in-person visit.

Qualifying Services

• General Medical Care: Routine office visits, follow-ups, and minor acute care.
• Behavioral Health: Psychotherapy, mental health counseling, and psychiatric evaluations.
• Specialized Care: Cognitive assessments, advance care planning, and certain therapy sessions.
• Audio-Only Care: Permitted for standard care in homes through December 31, 2027, and permanently for specific behavioral health needs where video is not feasible.

Technical and Location Rules

• Technology: Requires real-time, interactive audio and video communication (with temporary audio-only extensions).
• Location: Patients can receive virtual care from their homes or private residences with no geographic restrictions through December 31, 2027.
• Providers: Covered clinicians include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and licensed mental health professionals. You can check specific federal rules via Telehealth Policy Updates.