Medicare Telehealth In 2026: What's Covered, What's Not, How To Book

If you've been wondering whether telehealth is still covered by Medicare this year — yes, it is. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (CAA 2026) extended the pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027. That means the broad access to virtual doctor visits you've grown used to is staying in place for at least two more years.

But the details matter. There are still visit types that require an in-person appointment, a few specialties where the rules are different, and some booking steps that confuse even savvy Medicare users. This is a plain-English walkthrough of what is covered as of April 2026, what isn't, and exactly how to book a telehealth visit.

This article is informational and not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making health decisions.

The big picture in one paragraph

Under traditional Medicare (Part B), a telehealth visit is covered the same as an in-person visit. You pay the same 20% coinsurance after your Part B deductible, and supplemental insurance (Medigap) applies the same way. Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans generally cover telehealth equally or more generously. Thanks to CAA 2026, you can do these visits from home — no geographic or "originating site" restrictions — through the end of 2027. Audio-only (phone) visits are allowed for many services, including mental health and certain chronic-condition check-ins.

That's the headline. Now the nuance.

What's covered in 2026

Here's the practical list, based on CMS guidance current as of April 2026:

• Office visits with your primary care doctor — follow-ups, chronic condition management, medication reviews.
• Specialist consultations — cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, oncology check-ins, rheumatology. Many specialists now default to video for follow-ups.
• Mental health and behavioral health — therapy, counseling, psychiatric medication management. These have the most generous rules; audio-only is permitted.
• Substance use disorder treatment.
• Preventive counseling — smoking cessation, obesity counseling, alcohol misuse screening.
• Home dialysis check-ins for ESRD patients.
• Hospice face-to-face recertifications (through 2027).
• Critical care and ICU consultations (hospital-originated).
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy — covered via telehealth through the CAA 2026 extension.

Audio-only (phone-only, no video) is covered for:

• Mental and behavioral health.
• Certain evaluation and management visits where your doctor documents that you either don't have video-capable technology or you declined video.

This last point matters if you don't have a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera. You are not shut out. Call your doctor's office and ask for a "phone-only telehealth visit" — the billing codes exist and Medicare pays for them.

What still requires an in-person visit

Medicare has not eliminated in-person care — certain situations still require you to show up physically:

• Annual wellness visits — the initial enrollment visit. (Subsequent annual wellness visits can be done via telehealth in most cases, but rules shift; confirm with your provider.)
• Procedures and anything requiring a physical exam — injections, ear cleanings, joint exams that need palpation.
• Lab draws, imaging, and diagnostics — bloodwork, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, mammograms, DEXA scans, colonoscopies.
• Vaccinations — flu, shingles, COVID, pneumonia.
• Physical examinations required for certification (for example, some home health certifications).
• Anything that is an emergency. Chest pain, sudden weakness, severe shortness of breath, a major fall — call 911.

Medicare Advantage quirks

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), your plan likely covers everything traditional Medicare covers plus extras. Common Medicare Advantage telehealth benefits in 2026:

• $0 copay telehealth visits on many plans (confirm with yours).
• 24/7 nurse lines — included on nearly every Medicare Advantage plan.
• Expanded mental health networks — online therapy platforms like Talkspace or BetterHelp offered through the plan.
• Remote patient monitoring — blood pressure cuffs, glucose meters, pulse oximeters mailed to you, with data reviewed by your care team.

Call the number on the back of your plan card and ask: "What telehealth benefits do I have in 2026, and do any of them require prior authorization?"

How to book a Medicare telehealth visit — step by step

There are three booking paths. Use whichever one your doctor's office supports.

Path 1 — Call your doctor's office

Still the most reliable route for seniors who prefer the phone.

1. Call the main number on your doctor's business card or insurance card.
2. Say: "I'd like to schedule a telehealth visit." (If it's mental health or a follow-up, mention that.)
3. They'll ask: video or audio-only? Pick what you can manage.
4. Confirm the date and time, and ask how you'll receive the video link (email, text, or through the patient portal).

Path 2 — Your doctor's patient portal

Most US health systems use either MyChart (Epic), FollowMyHealth, athenaPatient, or a branded version of one of these. Once logged in:

1. Open the Appointments or Schedule a Visit section.
2. Choose Telehealth or Video Visit as the visit type.
3. Pick a time slot from what's offered.
4. Confirm. You'll usually get an email and a text 24 hours and then 15 minutes before the visit with the link.

If you've never used the portal, our telehealth guide for seniors walks through the first-time setup screen by screen.

Path 3 — MyMedicare.gov (for finding telehealth-offering providers)

MyMedicare.gov doesn't book visits directly, but it's the official Medicare portal and it has two useful tools:

1. Find a provider — search for doctors who accept Medicare and filter by "offers telehealth."
2. Claims — after the visit, you can see the telehealth claim posted and verify what Medicare paid.

Set up a MyMedicare account at medicare.gov/account. You'll need your Medicare card handy.

What you'll need on your end

• A reliable internet connection — 5 Mbps download is plenty for a video visit. Most home internet plans exceed this easily.
• A camera-equipped device — smartphone, tablet, or laptop. If you don't have one, audio-only is fine for many visits.
• A quiet, well-lit room — natural light behind the camera (not behind you) is ideal.
• Your medication list — keep it on paper beside you.
• Your blood pressure reading (if relevant) — many doctors now ask for a recent reading. If you have a home cuff, take one before the visit.
• Your pharmacy name and phone number — in case a new prescription is sent during the visit.

Common problems — and how to fix them fast

Problem: Your doctor is in another state.

Under CAA 2026 extensions, geographic restrictions are waived through 2027. You can see a Medicare-enrolled provider regardless of state. That said, many state medical boards still require providers to be licensed in the state where you are physically located during the call. In practice, your established relationship with your own doctors is always fine; a brand-new provider in another state may not be.

Problem: You don't have video.

Ask for an audio-only visit. Medicare pays for them for mental health and many other services through 2027.

Problem: The provider wants to charge you more for telehealth than for in-person.

They can't, under Medicare rules. The Part B coinsurance (20% after deductible) is the same. If you see a surprise charge, call the office — it's usually a billing code error.

Problem: You forgot the video link.

Check email, text messages, and the patient portal. If you still can't find it, call the office number — they can resend or switch you to audio-only.

A quick fact check on common myths

• "Telehealth is going away." False. Extended through December 31, 2027.
• "You must live in a rural area." False. Geographic restrictions are waived through 2027.
• "Phone-only visits aren't covered." Partially false. Mental health is covered; many other audio-only visits are covered when the patient can't do video.
• "Medicare Advantage doesn't cover telehealth." False. Most Advantage plans offer equal or expanded coverage.
• "Telehealth replaces your annual physical." False. Most in-person physical exams are still required.

Related reading

• Telehealth guide for seniors — beginner setup walkthrough.
• How to use telehealth video doctor visits — step-by-step first visit.
• Medicare scams — how to protect yourself — what to watch for post-visit.
• Emergency SOS setup for iPhone and Android — for the moments when telehealth isn't enough.
• How to use the Medicare portal online — full MyMedicare.gov walkthrough.

Sources

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Telehealth Services Guidance, 2026.
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Section extending telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027.
• Medicare.gov, What's Covered: Telehealth, verified April 2026.

This article is informational and not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making health decisions.

✅ Reviewed by Eleanor Shaw — techfor60s editorial desk, last verified 2026-04-18.