Medicare covers telehealth visits from anywhere in the U.S., including your home, through December 31, 2027. That includes phone-only visits in many cases. You pay the same as an in-person visit: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026. Starting January 1, 2028, under current law, most non-mental-health telehealth will again require you to be in a medical facility in a rural area. Mental health visits from home stay covered.
Telehealth means you see your doctor or nurse by video or phone. You stay at home. It saves trips, which helps in bad weather or after surgery. This guide uses the CMS telehealth FAQ updated October 2026, Medicare’s telehealth coverage page, HHS’s telehealth.hhs.gov Medicare policy page and Medicare’s 2026 costs page, all checked on October 16, 2026.
I research Medicare rules for older adults. I am not a licensed insurance agent or a doctor.
What Medicare telehealth covers right now
Through December 31, 2027, Medicare covers telehealth from anywhere in the U.S., including your home. Medicare.gov lists these examples:
- Office visits and consultations
- Advance care planning
- Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
- Caregiver training
- Cognitive assessments
- Depression screenings
- Diabetes self-management training
- Medical nutrition therapy
- Outpatient psychotherapy
- Speech therapy
Medicare may cover more. Ask your doctor what they offer by video.
There are also two lighter options:
- E-visits: messages through your doctor’s online patient portal.
- Virtual check-ins: short real-time calls, usually 10 minutes or less, to decide if you need a visit.
What you pay
For most telehealth, you pay the same as in person. In 2026:
- Part B deductible: $283 a year
- After that: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount
- Part B premium: $202.90 a month for most people
Medigap plans can cover the 20%. Medicare Advantage plans may offer more telehealth than Original Medicare, sometimes with a lower copay. Check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage.
Can I use just a phone?
Yes, for now. Under current law, you can get audio-only telehealth at home through December 31, 2027. This helps if you don’t have internet or a smartphone.
Starting January 1, 2028, phone-only visits will be allowed mainly for behavioral health at home, when your provider can do video but you can’t or don’t want to.
What changes on January 1, 2028
| Rule | Through Dec 31, 2027 | From Jan 1, 2028 (current law) |
|---|---|---|
| Where you can be | Anywhere in the U.S., including home | Generally a medical facility in a rural area (except behavioral health) |
| Phone-only visits | Allowed at home | Mainly behavioral health |
| Physical, occupational and speech therapists, audiologists | Can bill telehealth | Can no longer bill telehealth |
| Mental health from home | Allowed; no in-person visit required first | Allowed; in-person visit within 6 months for new patients, then yearly |
| Hospital therapy and nutrition at home | Hospitals can bill | Hospitals can no longer bill |
Congress has extended these rules several times before, so this could change again. Watch for news late in 2027.
Mental health by telehealth
Behavioral health is the one area where home telehealth is permanent. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 removed location limits for behavioral health. Video and, in some cases, phone visits are allowed.
There is an in-person rule to know. Starting in 2028, new patients need an in-person visit within 6 months before their first mental health telehealth visit at home. CMS says people who start mental health telehealth at home on or before December 31, 2027 count as established. They will need one in-person visit every 12 months after that date, instead of the 6-month rule. Our Medicare mental health coverage guide explains the costs.
So if you are thinking about therapy by video, starting before the end of 2027 may make things simpler later.
Physical therapy by video
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and audiologists can bill Medicare telehealth through December 31, 2027. From January 1, 2028, they can’t, under current law. If you need therapy at home after that, ask about in-person home health. See our guide to Medicare and physical therapy.
Remote monitoring is different
Some services, like remote patient monitoring and chronic care management, are not counted as “telehealth” under the law. CMS says the telehealth limits don’t apply to them. For example, a blood pressure cuff that sends readings to your doctor can keep working after 2027. Our Medicare CGM coverage guide covers one common device.
How to get ready for a video visit
- Ask your doctor’s office which app or link they use. Many send a text or email link.
- Test it a day early. Ask a family member to help the first time.
- Find a quiet, bright spot. Sit facing a window or lamp.
- Charge your device and plug it in if you can.
- Have your list ready: medicines, symptoms, questions, and your blood pressure or sugar readings.
- Keep your Medicare card nearby.
If you can’t connect, the office can often switch to a phone call.
Questions to ask your doctor’s office
Call before your first visit. Ask:
- Do you offer video visits? Phone visits?
- Which app do I need? Is it free?
- Will the cost be the same as an office visit?
- Can a family member join the call?
- What if the video drops? Will you call me back?
- Can I send photos of a rash or wound first?
Write the answers down. Keep them by the phone.
Stay safe from telehealth scams
- Medicare never calls to offer free genetic tests, braces or devices “through telehealth.”
- Don’t give your Medicare number to someone who calls you out of the blue.
- Check your Medicare Summary Notice for visits you didn’t have.
- Report fraud at 1-800-MEDICARE.
Is telehealth right for every visit?
No. Telehealth works well for follow-ups, medicine checks, mental health and reviewing test results. It does not replace a hands-on exam, lab work, imaging, or an emergency. Call 911 for chest pain, stroke signs or trouble breathing.
Video visits can be hard if you have trouble hearing or seeing. Ask for captions. Or have a family member join.
Common questions
Does Medicare cover telehealth from home in 2026?
Yes. Through December 31, 2027, Medicare covers telehealth from anywhere in the U.S., including your home.
How much does a Medicare telehealth visit cost?
Usually the same as in person: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026.
Can I have a telehealth visit by phone only?
Yes, at home through December 31, 2027. From 2028, phone-only is mainly for behavioral health.
What happens to Medicare telehealth in 2028?
Under current law, most telehealth will again require you to be in a rural medical facility, except behavioral health. Therapists and audiologists can no longer bill telehealth.
Is mental health telehealth staying?
Yes. Behavioral health telehealth at home is permanent. From 2028, an in-person visit rule applies to new patients, and established patients need one in-person visit a year.
Written by Khasim Basha Shaik. I research Medicare rules and senior health topics. I am not a licensed insurance agent or doctor. This article summarizes official CMS and Medicare.gov sources and is not insurance or medical advice. Last reviewed October 16, 2026.
