Telehealth has existed in one form or another since the early 20th century. It’s shifted over time, from electronic medical record transfers and video consultations in the 1940s and 50s, to electronically transmitting X-rays in the 1970s. When the pandemic struck in 2020, telehealth usage skyrocketed and helped countless people receive the care they needed. Now, telehealth remains a popular option for Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of their location.
If you’re new to virtual healthcare or have questions about Medicare telehealth coverage, here’s what you need to know.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is the practice of using technology to deliver healthcare and medical services. Essentially, virtual healthcare allows online doctor appointments, psychotherapy sessions, consultations, and other health and medical services.
Telemedicine, often used interchangeably with telehealth, refers to a smaller scope of clinical services provided within the umbrella of telehealth. Although the COVID-19 public health emergency ended in 2023, telehealth and telemedicine remain popular among physicians and healthcare providers. Prior to the pandemic, telehealth was mostly available to patients living in rural areas, but has since expanded to include anywhere in the U.S.
Benefits of telehealth services for seniors
Though popularized out of necessity, telehealth for seniors offers several benefits, including:
- Convenience: Sometimes, going to the doctor can disrupt your entire day — whether because of travel or timing. Telehealth allows you to see your preferred physician from the comfort of your own home (or your hotel room if you’re traveling).
- Safety: Telehealth services let you avoid the germs of other healthcare facilities. This is especially helpful for people with autoimmune conditions who face a greater risk of infection.
- Access to specialists: Close to a third of older adults visit at least five doctors per year. With telehealth, you aren’t limited to seeing specialists within a specific radius. Instead, you can see any in-network provider that offers virtual doctor visits.
- Saving travel time: No more battling traffic or buying plane tickets to see providers across the country. Instead, an online doctor appointment allows you to get care in the comfort of your own home.
Preparing for your telehealth visit
What does a virtual doctor visit look like?
Depending on the type and reason for the visit, your telehealth appointment may look different. Here’s what a typical virtual visit might look like:
- You make the appointment through your doctor’s office or via an online portal and fill out any necessary paperwork. You can schedule virtual visits for non-emergency issues like infections, back pain, mood disorders, sleep-related problems, and more.
- Set up your space and ensure you have the things you need — an internet connection, a private space, and an understanding of the reason for the visit. You can block of a private space to remain undisturbed or have a loved one present if necessary.
- Attend the appointment virtually in the privacy of your home. Avoid loud and/or public spaces as that can disrupt your appointment. During your online visit, your doctor will ask about your medical history, current concerns, and symptoms. If you’re visiting about a rash, bruise, swelling, or something visible on your body, they’ll ask you to show it in your camera. Then your doctor will discuss next steps with you — whether that’s a follow up, prescription, or a referral to a specialist.
Following your appointment, your doctor may suggest additional telehealth tools to share your results with you or monitor specific health conditions. For example, doctors may prescribe patients with high blood pressure an at-home blood pressure cuff to monitor heart rate and blood flow, or a glucometer to track blood sugar levels. These remote monitoring devices help patients manage their health and allow doctors to provide more targeted care.
Does Medicare cover telehealth services for seniors?
In participating plans, Medicare telehealth coverage applies to certain services and begins after you meet the Part B deductible ($257 in 2025). You are still responsible for 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the telehealth service.
The costs for telehealth services for seniors are comparable to its in-person counterparts. Your exact expenses will depend on a number of factors, including:
- Other insurance policies
- Your doctor’s fee
- Whether your doctor accepts your assignment
- Where you get the service done
Due to the pandemic, Congress made certain provisions that made telehealth more widely accessible. For example, they expanded access to include urban areas, made more services eligible for coverage, and waived the in-person requirement for behavioral health services. These provisions were extended to September 2025 and will need to be extended again for Medicare telehealth coverage to continue.
While these provision extensions are up in the air, there are still multiple ways to use telehealth and telemedicine to receive the care you need. Telehealth has evolved to include a wide range of services, and as technology advances, the number of telehealth options will continue to grow in both complexity and flexibility while still providing one of the most convenient ways to receive quality care from your physician. All from the comfort of your own home, with just a smartphone or computer and internet connection.
Medicare covers many virtual services, some of them plan-specific. If you’re uncertain what telehealth services your plan covers, if any, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of your reps to see what’s included in your plan.
