Yes, in many cases insurance pays for telehealth, but the answer depends on your plan type and what your plan says about your visit. As of November 2026, Medicare’s telehealth page says Medicare covers telehealth services you can get from anywhere in the U.S., including your home, through December 31, 2027. For Medicaid and private plans, the sections below show you how to check yours.
Is telehealth covered by insurance?
Wellcare, a Medicare Advantage plan, says most virtual visits are covered by your plan, with a copay or coinsurance that may apply, just as an in-office visit would. Commercial plans set their own terms, so check your own plan’s documents for copays, deductibles and network rules. Humana’s virtual visits page says these visits may be offered by your current doctor or other providers in your plan’s network. Your own plan documents give the final answer for your situation.
How much does a telehealth visit cost out of pocket?
Your cost depends on your plan type. This table sets out what each source says, with the year where the source gives one.
| Coverage type | What it costs you, per the source | Limits per the source |
|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare (Part B) | After the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Healthgrades listed the deductible at $257 in 2025. For most telehealth services, Medicare says you pay the same as you would in person. | Healthgrades says providers must accept assignment; Medicare’s page says your cost depends on whether your doctor accepts assignment. Ask your provider. Medicare lists examples and says it may cover more. |
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | Depends on your plan. Healthgrades says that in 2025, in-network out-of-pocket spending was capped at $9,350, excluding prescriptions. | Care outside your plan’s network may cost more or may not be covered. |
| Private plan: Medicare Advantage example (Wellcare) | A copay or coinsurance may apply, and deductibles may apply. Wellcare says some telehealth providers let you see the cost before you schedule. | Use in-network providers. Specialist visits may need prior authorization. |
| Medicaid | Ask your Medicaid plan or state program what you would owe. | Confirm with your state Medicaid program or plan. |
| No insurance | Renew Health says some telehealth services offer lower costs for people without insurance. | Ask for the price before you book. |
Does Medicare cover telehealth in 2026 and 2027?
As of November 2026, Medicare’s telehealth coverage page says Medicare covers telehealth services you can get from anywhere in the U.S., including your home, through December 31, 2027. That page shows telehealth coverage running past 2026.
Older articles say something different. A Healthgrades article updated November 28, 2024 described limits starting January 1, 2025 that would have covered most telehealth services only in rural areas. If you see a rural-only rule, it comes from that older article. Use Medicare’s current page for dates.
Which telehealth services does Medicare cover?
Medicare’s page lists these examples of covered telehealth services and says Medicare may cover more:
- Advance care planning
- Cardiac rehabilitation services
- Caregiver training services
- Cognitive assessments
- Depression screenings
- Diabetes self-management training
- Medical nutrition therapy services
- Outpatient psychotherapy
- Pulmonary rehabilitation services
- Speech therapy
The page also describes e-visits, which happen through an online patient portal, and virtual check-ins, which are brief real-time contacts that usually last 10 minutes or less. The full set of telehealth services is on CMS’s telehealth services list.
What are the 5 treatments that Medicare won’t cover?
Medicare’s telehealth page does not list five treatments it won’t cover. What Medicare pays for depends on the service and your coverage. The page also warns that your doctor may recommend services Medicare doesn’t cover or offers too often, and those can add costs for you. Ask your doctor what Medicare will actually cover before you agree to a service, and ask why it is recommended.
Who is eligible for telehealth coverage?
Under Original Medicare, the telehealth page ties coverage to the dates above, not to where you live. Healthgrades’ summary of Medicare’s requirements says the providers who care for you must accept assignment, meaning they accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. Medicare Advantage plans can offer more. Healthgrades says some Part C plans include extra telehealth coverage, and that you may be uncovered or pay more if you use a provider outside your plan’s network.
Does Medicaid cover telehealth?
Medicare’s telehealth page does not describe Medicaid coverage, so ask your Medicaid plan or state program whether telehealth is covered and what you would owe. The Texas Medical Board’s patient page points Texas readers to the state’s Medicaid and CHIP information. In any state, ask your Medicaid plan whether telehealth visits are covered, what you would pay, and which providers accept the plan for telehealth. Ask the provider’s billing office too.
What does Humana say about telehealth?
Humana’s virtual visits page says you can see a board-certified doctor by secure video or phone, and that you can sign in to your MyHumana account to see whether your plan includes these visits. Humana says virtual visits mean no travel, no waiting rooms and no surprise urgent care or emergency room bills. These are Humana’s own statements, and your plan documents set the actual terms.
It points to the MyHumana account rather than naming a separate app. It does not say whether Humana Medicaid plans include virtual visits, so ask that plan directly.
Is it cheaper to go to urgent care or telehealth?
Medicare’s telehealth page does not compare urgent care and telehealth prices. For Original Medicare, the page says that for most telehealth services you pay the same amount as in person, so telehealth does not lower your Medicare share for those services. With a private or Medicare Advantage plan, check the copay for each setting on your plan. For a closer look at costs, see telehealth vs in-person cost.
How long do telehealth visits last?
Medicare describes virtual check-ins as usually 10 minutes or less. Its page does not give a standard length for a live video visit, so ask when you book. For comparison, Johns Hopkins researcher Debra Roter says the length of an appointment matters less than its quality, and many doctors’ visits last only 15 to 20 minutes, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Decide your top concerns before you connect.
What are the benefits of telehealth?
Medicare says telehealth can provide many services that usually happen in person, including office visits, psychotherapy and consultations. Wellcare says a virtual visit is a good option if getting to an in-person appointment is hard, and that you can take it from home. Humana’s page claims no travel and no waiting rooms. Not every concern suits a video or phone visit. If you are unsure, use this guide on telehealth or in-person before you choose.
What should you check before you book?
- Find your plan type on your member card: Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, or a private plan.
- Sign in to your plan’s member portal, or call the number on the back of your card, and ask whether telehealth visits are covered and what you would owe.
- Confirm the provider is in network, since Wellcare says out-of-network use may cost more.
- Ask whether you need prior authorization. Wellcare says most telehealth visits for common issues do not need it, but specialist visits may.
- Ask for the price before you schedule.
- Write down your symptoms, medicines, supplements and questions. MedlinePlus’s guide to making the most of a doctor visit lists what to bring, and you can also use preparing for visits.
A phone script you can use: ‘Is a telehealth visit with my plan covered, what would I owe, and do I need prior authorization first?’
Where can you get free help with Medicare coverage?
Medicare can be reached at 800-633-4227 (TTY 877-486-2048), and offers live chat at medicare.gov/talk-to-someone. Healthgrades describes the State Health Insurance Assistance Program as offering free, personalized insurance advice. Find a counselor through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
What about emergencies?
Telehealth is not for emergencies. Humana’s page says that for a true emergency, such as a life-threatening injury, illness or major trauma, you should call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
What if you do not have insurance?
Renew Health says some telehealth services offer lower costs for people without insurance. Ask the service for its price before you book, and ask a clinician whether a video or phone visit fits your concern.
By the Connected Care Guide Team
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