A telehealth service is a full visit with a provider See Health Care Provider. using telephone or video technology that allows for both audio and video communication. Original Medicare Original Medicare, also known as Traditional Medicare, is the fee-for-service health insurance program offered through the federal government, which pays providers directly for the services you receive. Almost all doctors and hospitals in the U.S. accept Original Medicare. covers certain telehealth benefits, such as professional consultations, office visits, including psychiatry services, and a limited number of other services.
Telehealth services are:
- Generally only covered in rural areas, and you still have to go to a specific “originating site” (often a different medical office or clinic) to receive the telehealth
- Covered for all beneficiaries regardless of geographic area for certain types of care only
- For example, behavioral/mental health care, monthly End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) visits for home dialysis, diabetes self-management training, and Medicare nutrition therapy.
- Generally only covered if provided via interactive, two-way audio and video technology
- Able to be delivered using audio-only communication platforms for behavioral/mental health care
- Limited to certain providers, such as physicians and nurse practitioners
Medicare Advantage Plans must cover all of the telehealth benefits included in Original Medicare, but they may also cover additional telehealth benefits. Additional telehealth benefits offered by Medicare Advantage Plans may be available if you live outside of a rural area and may be covered in your home. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you should contact your plan to learn about its costs and coverage rules for additional telehealth benefits.
Note: During and after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, telehealth coverage was temporarily expanded to include more flexibility and allow more people to receive care from their homes. This authority expired September 30, 2025. You may have gotten telehealth services covered in the past that will no longer be covered.