Is telehealth covered by Medicare?

Yes - Medicare covers telehealth, and it has become a normal way to use Part B. Medicare.gov states that Part B covers certain telehealth services: medical or health services you get from a provider located elsewhere in the US using video or, in some cases, audio-only communication. The cost math is the familiar Part B math: after the Part B deductible, you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount - the same coinsurance as if you had sat in the office. What the visit can cover is broad: routine follow-ups, medication checks, mental health visits (one of telehealth's strongest use cases for Medicare patients), urgent minor illness, and chronic-condition management. Medicare Advantage plans often add their own telehealth benefits on top, sometimes with lower copays, so Advantage members should check the plan document. The practicalities that trip people up: the provider must be enrolled with Medicare and licensed appropriately, some services still require an in-person visit on a schedule, and you need a device with video capability for most visits - though audio-only is permitted for some services, particularly behavioral health. If you are unsure whether a specific visit type is covered, the fast route is asking the provider's billing office whether they bill Medicare for telehealth. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you prepare for a virtual visit or decide what kind you need.