Yes. Medicare Part B covers many telehealth services, and through the end of 2027 you can get them from anywhere in the U.S., including your own home. Office visits, mental health counseling, depression screenings, speech therapy and caregiver training can all happen by video, and some by phone. You usually pay what you would pay for the same visit in person.
Telehealth stopped being a pandemic stopgap a while ago. For a lot of people with Medicare in Charlotte, Fort Mill and Nashville, it is now the easiest way to keep a follow-up appointment, check in with a therapist or get help managing a chronic condition without a drive across town. Here is what Medicare covers in 2027, what it costs, how Medicare Advantage plans can differ, and what to ask before your next virtual visit.
What counts as a Medicare telehealth visit?
Medicare describes telehealth as a medical or health service you get from a provider who is somewhere else, using audio and video technology, or audio only in some cases. In practice that means a video call on your phone, tablet or computer, and sometimes a regular phone call.
Medicare also covers two shorter forms of virtual care that people often lump in with telehealth:
- E-visits: messages back and forth with your provider, usually through an online patient portal, when a question doesn't need a full appointment.
- Virtual check-ins: brief, real-time conversations with your provider, by phone or video, to decide whether you need to come in.
These are covered under Medicare Part B, the part of Original Medicare that pays for doctor visits and outpatient care.
Which telehealth services does Medicare cover in 2027?
Medicare's own list of examples is broader than most people expect. Services that can be delivered by telehealth include:
- Office visits and consultations that normally happen in person
- Outpatient psychotherapy (counseling)
- Depression screenings
- Cognitive assessments
- Advance care planning
- Caregiver training
- Diabetes self-management training
- Medical nutrition therapy
- Cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation
- Speech therapy
Medicare says it may cover more telehealth services than the examples on its list, so the best move is to ask your provider directly: "Can we do this visit by video, and will Medicare cover it that way?" You can read Medicare's current list on its telehealth coverage page.
Can I really do telehealth from home through the end of 2027?
Yes. According to Medicare's 2027 update, Your Medicare in 2027: What's New & Changing, you can get Medicare telehealth services from any location in the U.S., including your home, through the end of 2027.
That matters because, before the pandemic, Original Medicare mostly limited telehealth to people in certain rural areas who went to a clinic or hospital for the video visit. The home-based rules have been extended several times since then. Medicare hasn't said what happens after 2027, so treat the end of 2027 as the date to plan around and watch for news next fall.
One practical note: "anywhere in the U.S." means you need to be in the country for the visit. If you spend part of the winter out of state, your telehealth visit can still count. If you travel abroad, check our guide on Medicare coverage when traveling first.
How much does a Medicare telehealth visit cost?
For most telehealth services, you pay the same amount you would pay for the same service in person. With Original Medicare, that means the Part B deductible applies first, and then you pay your share of the Medicare-approved amount for the provider's service.
Your real cost depends on a few things:
- Whether you have a Medicare Supplement plan that picks up some or all of your Part B cost-sharing
- Whether your doctor accepts assignment (agrees to Medicare's approved amount)
- What other coverage you have, such as retiree coverage or Medicaid
- Whether the service is one Medicare covers only up to a certain frequency
Medicare's advice is worth repeating: your doctor may recommend a service Medicare doesn't cover, so ask what Medicare will pay for before the visit. For the full picture of premiums and cost-sharing, see how much Medicare costs.
Do Medicare Advantage plans cover telehealth differently?
They can. Medicare Advantage plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers, and many add their own telehealth benefits on top, such as virtual urgent care or visits with a plan-contracted telehealth provider. Some of those extras may be available from home no matter where you live, separate from the national rules above.
The catch is that each plan sets its own rules. A plan may limit extra telehealth benefits to certain providers, or charge a different copay for a virtual visit than an office visit. Before you count on telehealth, check three things in your plan's Evidence of Coverage:
| Question to check | Original Medicare | Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Can I have the visit at home? | Yes, through the end of 2027 | Yes, and the plan may offer extra at-home options |
| What do I pay? | Usually the same as an in-person visit | Set by the plan; may differ from an office copay |
| Which providers can I use? | Any provider who takes Medicare and offers telehealth | Usually in-network providers, or the plan's telehealth service |
| Are there extra services? | Medicare's covered list | Often, such as virtual urgent care; check the plan |
If your doctor is part of an Accountable Care Organization, Medicare suggests asking them about telehealth benefits too. Comparing these details side by side is a big part of choosing between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement.
How do I get ready for a telehealth visit?
A little prep makes a virtual visit work as well as an office visit, especially if you're helping a parent who isn't comfortable with technology:
- Ask the office how the visit works. Video app, patient portal link or phone call? Do you need to download anything?
- Test the device a day early. Check the camera, microphone and the login for the patient portal.
- Have your list ready. Medications with dosages, recent readings (blood pressure, blood sugar), and the questions you want answered.
- Pick a quiet, well-lit spot. Somewhere private, with the light in front of you rather than behind.
- Keep your Medicare card and plan card nearby in case the office needs to confirm coverage.
- Ask about cost before you hang up if you aren't sure the service is covered.
What does telehealth look like in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee?
The Medicare rules are the same in all three states. What differs is which providers offer telehealth and how. In the Charlotte area, large systems such as Atrium Health and Novant Health run patient portals and virtual visits, and many independent practices offer video visits too. Clients of ours in York and Lancaster counties in South Carolina often see Charlotte-area doctors, and a telehealth visit doesn't change their Medicare coverage. In Middle Tennessee, the major Nashville health systems and many Franklin and Murfreesboro practices offer virtual visits as well.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, the network still matters. A virtual visit with an out-of-network provider can cost more, or not be covered, depending on the plan type. Your 2027 Annual Notice of Change will tell you whether your plan's telehealth benefits are changing next year.
How The Jordan Insurance Agency can help
If telehealth is part of how you get care, it should be part of how you choose coverage. During a review, we look at whether your doctors offer virtual visits, what your current or prospective Medicare Advantage plan charges for them, and whether a Medicare Supplement would make your Part B costs more predictable. Bring your doctors, prescriptions and the way you like to see them, and we'll compare options from multiple carriers with you in plain English. Schedule Your Consultation to review your options.
Reviewed by Billy Jordan Jr., licensed insurance agent · Licensing & Credentials · Last reviewed November 12, 2026 · Sources are linked in the answer above.
Licensing: Billy Jordan Jr. is licensed in 23 states, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. See Licensing & Credentials.
Office: North Carolina and South Carolina clients are served by the Charlotte office, 3540 Toringdon Way, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28277, (704) 926-7565. Tennessee clients are served by the Nashville office, 159 4th Ave N, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37219, (615) 558-6082.
Medicare disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 91 products in North Carolina, 7 organizations which offer 70 products in South Carolina, and 7 organizations which offer 65 products in Tennessee. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Read the full Medicare disclaimer.
.svg)
.svg)
