Telehealth

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

covers certain telehealth services.

Your costs in Original Medicare

After you meet the Part B deductible , you pay 20% of the Medicare-Approved Amount for your doctor or other health care provider's services.

For many telehealth services, you'll pay the same amount that you would if you got the services in person.

note:

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency, doctors and other health care providers can use telehealth services to treat COVID-19 (and for other medically reasonable purposes) from offices, hospitals, and places of residence (like homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities) as of March 6, 2020. Coinsurance and deductibles apply, though some healthcare providers are reducing or waiving the amount you pay for telehealth visits.

Fraud alert: Watch out for providers you don’t know or haven’t met before contacting you to set up a telehealth appointment. They may offer you perks like cash payments or free prescription drugs to get your personal information, and then start billing Medicare for items and services you didn’t need or you didn’t get, like lab tests, braces or orthotics. If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE.

If you have coverage through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket costs (called cost-sharing) for COVID-19 tests. They may also offer more telehealth services than what was included in their approved 2021 benefits.

Note
To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like: Other insurance you may have How much your doctor charges If your doctor accepts assignment The type of facility Where you get your test, item, or service The type of provider

Note

To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like:

Other insurance you may have
How much your doctor charges
If your doctor accepts assignment
The type of facility
Where you get your test, item, or service
The type of provider

What it is

Telehealth includes certain medical or health services that you get from your doctor or other health care provider using audio and video communications technology, like your phone or a computer (or audio-only telehealth services in some cases). Some examples of Medicare-covered telehealth services include:

Therapy and online counseling
Prescription management
Urgent care issues, like colds, coughs and stomach aches
Post-surgical follow-up
Treatment of recurring conditions, like migraines or urinary tract infections
Treatment of skin conditions
Lab test or X-ray result consultations

Things to know

Note
Medicare Advantage Plans and providers who are part of certain Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) may offer more telehealth benefits than Original Medicare. These benefits are available in a variety of places, and you can use them to get services at home instead of going to a health care facility. Check with your plan to see what additional telehealth benefits it may offer. If your provider participates in an ACO, check with them to see what telehealth benefits may be available.

Note

Medicare Advantage Plans and providers who are part of certain Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) may offer more telehealth benefits than Original Medicare. These benefits are available in a variety of places, and you can use them to get services at home instead of going to a health care facility. Check with your plan to see what additional telehealth benefits it may offer. If your provider participates in an ACO, check with them to see what telehealth benefits may be available.

Telehealth

note:

Is my test, item, or service covered?