Although most Medicare Advantage plans have been covering telehealth for years, traditional Medicare used to restrict the service only to certain devices and practitioners, and patients had to be at a Medicare facility. During the novel coronavirus COVID-19 public health emergency, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) took quick action to make it easier for providers to offer telehealth services. Telehealth — sometimes referred to as telemedicine — describes the use of 2-way communication technology for certain health care services. But Medicare offers no discounts for telehealth, and in most cases, beneficiaries pay the same cost for virtual visits as those in an office—20% of the bill with the Medicare Part B deductible applying.
To learn more, review the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare Benefits booklet which provides an easy to understand overview of your benefits and limitations.