Key takeaways:
Most health insurance plans cover telehealth services, but your out-of-pocket costs and which platforms you can use depend on your plan.
Original Medicare covers many telehealth services, including audio-only visits, through December 31, 2027. Medicaid also covers telehealth in all states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., but services and requirements vary.
You can use telehealth without insurance, and what you pay depends on the type of care and platform you use.
A telehealth visit, which means seeing a healthcare professional online, is a convenient and popular way to get medical care remotely. With a smartphone, tablet, or computer, you can connect with a healthcare professional without traveling to a medical location.
If you’re new to virtual healthcare, you may have questions about insurance coverage, as well as copays and other out-of-pocket costs for telehealth services. Here’s what to know before scheduling a telehealth appointment.
Is telehealth covered by insurance?
Yes. In addition to Medicare and Medicaid, most commercial health insurance plans cover telehealth services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health plans expanded coverage for telehealth services, and most of those changes have remained in effect.
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Most states now have laws that require commercial insurance plans to cover telehealth visits, as tracked by the Public Health Institute’s Center for Connected Health Policy. These laws set the minimum requirements for the telehealth services that must be covered. But your plan determines your out-of-pocket costs and whether you must use certain platforms, apps, or healthcare professionals.
Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans cover essential health benefits, including preventive and mental healthcare, which are often available through telehealth.
Telehealth services that may be covered by insurance include:
Chronic condition management
Medication management
Mental health counseling and therapy
Primary care annual wellness visits
Sick visits
Here’s what you need to know before scheduling a telehealth appointment you expect to be covered by your insurance:
If your plan requires a referral or prior authorization for an office visit, those same rules usually apply to telehealth visits.
Your plan may only cover telehealth through certain platforms or apps.
You may still owe a deductible, copay, or coinsurance, depending on your benefits.
Health plans often charge the same copay or coinsurance for telehealth visits as they do for in-person appointments. Some plans may have different cost-sharing structures for virtual visits.
Before scheduling a telehealth appointment, contact your plan to confirm coverage, requirements, and what you may owe for the visit. You can often check this information through your plan’s online member portal.
Some insurance companies have their own telehealth platforms for urgent care or other services. In these cases, your out-of-pocket costs may be lower. Check with your plan to see if this is an option.
Does Medicare cover telehealth?
Yes, Original Medicare covers many telehealth services, and the current rules allow beneficiaries to receive these visits from anywhere in the U.S. through December 31, 2027. Covered visits can happen through a patient portal or other technology such as a smartphone or tablet.
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Before the COVID pandemic, original Medicare enrollees could typically receive telehealth services only if they lived in a rural area or traveled to an approved facility. Telehealth access expanded during the pandemic, and those changes have been extended several times since.
Telehealth services covered by original Medicare include:
Cardiac rehabilitation services
Caregiver training services
Cognitive assessments
Depression screenings
Diabetes self-management training
Medical nutrition therapy services
Office visits
Outpatient psychotherapy
Speech therapy
Original Medicare may cover services not included in this list. Through December 31, 2027, original Medicare also covers audio-only telehealth visits. This means you can receive care over the phone, without video, which can be helpful if you don’t have access to a smartphone or computer — or prefer not to use video. Your healthcare professional can tell you whether the care you need can be done through audio-only telehealth.
Medicare’s online care location and comparison tool can help you find healthcare professionals who provide telehealth services. You can search by ZIP code, city, or state and filter results to show telehealth options.
You’ll generally pay the same as you would for an in-person visit. After meeting your Medicare Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
A Medicare supplement plan (Medigap) may help cover some or all of your cost-sharing for covered original Medicare services, including telehealth.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must meet or exceed original Medicare’s benefits. These private plans may offer additional telehealth benefits. Check your Medicare Advantage plan materials, use your online member portal, or call the phone number on your insurance card to find out what telehealth options are available to you.
Does Medicaid cover telehealth?
Yes, Medicaid covers many telehealth services, and in most cases, you can receive them from home. Medicaid programs in every state, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., cover some form of telehealth.
Each state or territory runs its own Medicaid program, which means telehealth coverage rules, eligible services, and requirements vary depending on where you live. Your out-of-pocket costs for telehealth services covered under Medicaid also vary by state or territory.
Most Medicaid programs also cover audio-only (telephone) telehealth visits, particularly for mental health services. Many also allow audio-only for a wider range of telehealth visits.
To find out what telehealth services are covered, contact your state or territory Medicaid program.
Can I see an online doctor without insurance?
Yes, you can see a healthcare professional online (via telehealth) without insurance. Many telehealth companies and healthcare professionals offer virtual medical care for a fee. In this case, you will be responsible for paying the full cost of the visit out of pocket.
Be prepared to pay at the time of the visit with a debit or credit card; however, rarely, some companies bill you after your appointment. You can also use pretax dollars (sometimes via a debit card) from a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) — if you have one — to cover telehealth services, which can help you save.
You can access discounted online care visits with a GoodRx Companion subscription. The program also includes other benefits to help you cut costs when you self-pay for prescriptions and other healthcare.
How much is a telehealth visit without insurance?
Without insurance, a cash-pay telehealth visit can average $40 to $90 depending on several factors, including:
Type of service: The reason for your visit can affect the cost. Services for some conditions and some consultation types are priced differently.
Medical specialty: Visits for primary care typically cost less than visits with specialists.
Telehealth platform: Telehealth companies charge different self-pay fees, with some offering membership pricing. Access to discounted online care visits is included with your GoodRx Companion subscription.
Medications: In addition to the price of the visit, consider costs for filling prescriptions and buying over-the-counter medicine.
Many telehealth companies list prices on their websites. Before scheduling an appointment, ask about the fee structure and available discounts.
Telehealth vs. telemedicine
Though used interchangeably, there’s a difference between telehealth and telemedicine:
Telemedicine refers to medical care you receive remotely using technology, such as a virtual visit with a healthcare professional.
Telehealth is a broader term that includes telemedicine and other virtual healthcare services, including appointment scheduling, patient education, and training for healthcare professionals.
Ways to save on telehealth services
Try these tips to help keep costs down when using telehealth services:
Check your insurance plan first. Find out which telehealth services and healthcare professionals your plan covers. You can do this through your online member portal or by calling your plan to ask about covered telehealth options and how you can access these services.
Compare prices. If you don’t have insurance, shop around to compare platforms and fees. With a GoodRx Companion subscription, you’ll see the price before your visit.
Look for discounts. As you compare prices, check for available discounts. Community health centers and some mental health professionals may offer sliding-scale fees — which is especially important if you don’t have insurance or need lower-cost options to fit your budget.
When should you see a provider in-person?
Seeing a healthcare professional online can be convenient and cost-effective. You may even use telehealth services for some urgent care concerns, such as fever, sore throat, or minor pain.
But in some instances, an in-person visit is necessary to diagnose and treat a health condition properly.
You’ll need an in-person visit for healthcare such as:
Certain lab tests
Most physical exams
Procedures
X-rays and other imaging
Bear in mind that during a telehealth visit, a healthcare professional may recommend an in-person appointment if your symptoms need a closer evaluation or testing. This will likely result in an added cost sharing, such as a copay, if you use insurance or out-of-pocket expenses if you cash-pay.
If you’re experiencing severe symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for immediate medical attention.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for now. Federal rules allow healthcare professionals to prescribe controlled medications such as Adderall (amphetamine salt combo) via telehealth without a prior in-person visit through December 31, 2026. These rules were extended while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services works on permanent standards for controlled medications, so stay in contact with your prescriber about future requirements.
No. Some temporary original Medicare telehealth rules were scheduled to end in 2026, but Congress passed a spending bill that extended these rules through December 31, 2027. Though coverage varies, telehealth benefits also continue in most states for commercial (private), ACA marketplace, and Medicaid plans.
Medicare Advantage health maintenance organization (HMO) plans and other managed care plans, in particular, offer home visits to make healthcare easier to access for some people. Home visits also help the plan monitor your medical services and coordinate care. During a home visit, a licensed healthcare professional may review your health history, perform screenings, and recommend follow-up care.
Yes, for now. Federal rules allow healthcare professionals to prescribe controlled medications such as Adderall (amphetamine salt combo) via telehealth without a prior in-person visit through December 31, 2026. These rules were extended while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services works on permanent standards for controlled medications, so stay in contact with your prescriber about future requirements.
No. Some temporary original Medicare telehealth rules were scheduled to end in 2026, but Congress passed a spending bill that extended these rules through December 31, 2027. Though coverage varies, telehealth benefits also continue in most states for commercial (private), ACA marketplace, and Medicaid plans.
Medicare Advantage health maintenance organization (HMO) plans and other managed care plans, in particular, offer home visits to make healthcare easier to access for some people. Home visits also help the plan monitor your medical services and coordinate care. During a home visit, a licensed healthcare professional may review your health history, perform screenings, and recommend follow-up care.
The bottom line
Medicare, most Medicaid programs, and many commercial insurance plans cover some sort of telehealth services. Benefits and out-of-pocket costs vary depending on your coverage and location. Before scheduling a telehealth appointment, confirm benefits and cost sharing with your insurance plan. In many cases, your out-of-pocket costs for telehealth appointments are similar to those for in-person visits.
You can use telehealth without insurance, but be prepared to pay for the visit in full on the day of service. Prices can vary depending on the type of care and platform you choose. It pays to research, shop around, and compare costs before booking a telehealth visit. You can access discounted online care visits with a GoodRx Companion subscription. The program also includes other benefits to help you cut costs when you self-pay for prescriptions and other healthcare.
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References
Center for Connected Health Policy. (2026). Medicaid & Medicare overview. Public Health Institute/The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center.
Center for Connected Health Policy. (2026). Private payer requirements. Public Health Institute/The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center.
Congress.gov. (2026). H.R.7148 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. 119th Congress.
Cottrill, A., et al. (2026). What to know about Medicare coverage of telehealth. KFF.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Telehealth. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Telehealth: Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers certain telehealth services. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicare.gov. (2026). Find & compare providers near you. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Public Health Institute. (2026). Tool: Telehealth policy finder.
Telehealth.HHS.gov. (2023). Finding telehealth options. Health Resources & Services Administration.
Telehealth.HHS.gov. (2025). Can I use telehealth for emergency care? Health Resources & Services Administration.
Telehealth.HHS.gov. (2025). Private insurance coverage for telehealth. Health Resources & Services Administration.
Telehealth.HHS.gov. (2025). State Medicaid telehealth coverage. Health Resources & Services Administration.
Telehealth.HHS.gov. (2026). Telehealth policy updates. Health Resources & Services Administration.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). Telehealth FAQ.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2026). HHS & DEA extend telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled medications through 2026.
