Medicare covers telehealth services and will continue to do so in 2026. For most beneficiaries, access is staying the same for now.
The expanded telehealth rules put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended several times. Most recently, they were set to expire on January 30, 2026, but Congress has again extended the relaxed rules around telehealth. Under the latest extension, Original Medicare beneficiaries can continue receiving telehealth services from anywhere in the United States and territories through December 31, 2027. Here’s what to know.
Is anything changing with Medicare telehealth coverage in 2026?
No telehealth changes are taking effect in 2026 for Original Medicare beneficiaries. Beneficiaries can continue using telehealth the same way they have since the pandemic, including receiving many services from home and accessing care regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban area.
Congress passed a spending bill on February 3, 2026, that retroactively extended Original Medicare telehealth access through December 31, 2027. The restrictions that were previously expected to return in 2026—such as limits based on location, provider type, or technology—are not being reinstated at this time.
What telehealth services does Medicare cover?
Under the current extended rules, Original Medicare allows many healthcare visits to take place via telehealth. These options reflect the expanded telehealth access that has been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic and remains available through December 31, 2027.
Telehealth services covered by Original Medicare include:
- Office visits with primary care providers and specialists
- Mental health services, including therapy and counseling
- Depression screenings
- Cognitive assessments
- Advance care planning
- Diabetes management and education
- Nutrition counseling
- Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
- Speech therapy
- Caregiver training
Additional services may also qualify for telehealth coverage. You can reach out to Medicare (or your Medicare Advantage plan, if applicable) or your healthcare provider to find out which of your appointments can be conducted remotely.
Are in-person visits required for mental health telehealth under Medicare?
No. Through December 31, 2027, Original Medicare will not require in-person visits to start or continue mental health telehealth services. You can begin telehealth therapy or counseling without seeing your provider in person first, and you don’t need periodic in-person appointments to maintain coverage.
Original Medicare has also made certain mental health telehealth benefits permanent. These protections will remain in place even after other telehealth flexibilities expire. Here’s what stays permanent:
- Mental health services can be received from home, regardless of where you live.
- Audio-only (phone) visits are allowed for mental health care.
- There are no geographic restrictions for accessing mental health telehealth services.
Does Medicare cover audio-only (phone) telehealth visits?
Yes. Original Medicare covers audio-only (phone) telehealth visits for most services when you’re at home through December 31, 2027. You don’t need video capability to access telehealth care under Original Medicare during this time.
Will these rule changes apply to Medicare Advantage coverage of telehealth?
The extended telehealth coverage described above applies to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover the same services that are covered under Original Medicare, but there can be significant differences in terms of prior authorization, provider network access, and out-of-pocket costs. And Medicare Advantage plans can also cover additional telehealth services that aren’t covered by Original Medicare.
Your best bet is to contact your Medicare Advantage plan directly to find out what telehealth services are available to you, whether prior authorization is required, and what provider you can see via telehealth.
If you have Original Medicare and your provider participates in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), you may also have access to additional telehealth options. It’s worth checking with your provider about what telehealth services they can offer.
How many Medicare beneficiaries have used telehealth?
Telehealth use among Medicare beneficiaries surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since leveled off at rates well above what they were before. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data, about 48% of Original Medicare beneficiaries (approximately 14.8 million people) used telehealth services in 2020, accounting for 52.7 million total Medicare telehealth visits that year. That represented a 63-fold increase from (before the telehealth flexibilities were put in place), when there were approximately 840,000 Medicare telehealth visits.
Usage has since declined but remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. By 2024, about 25% of Original Medicare beneficiaries (6.7 million people) were using telehealth.
How has telehealth affected provider visits?
Even with millions more Medicare beneficiaries using telehealth, research shows that the expansion did not lead to more overall provider visits. A University of Michigan analysis of 60 million beneficiaries found that total visit volume remained stable or even declined through mid‑2024.
This was true even in specialties that used telehealth the most, such as behavioral health. Overall, telehealth appears to have replaced in-person appointments, rather than increasing how often beneficiaries see healthcare providers.
Maggie Aime is a health, wellness and medical personal finance writer. With over 25 years in healthcare and a passion for education, she draws on her rich experience across nursing specialties, case management, revenue management, medical coding, and utilization review nurse consultant roles to create content that informs, inspires, and empowers. She’s passionate about educating people about all aspects of disease prevention, health and wellness, and how to navigate the U.S. healthcare system. She’s the owner of The Write RN, LLC.
