Health Insurance
Telehealth
Telehealth allows patients to consult physicians, therapists, and specialists from home, often at lower cost-sharing than office visits.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology
Definition
Telehealth (also called telemedicine) encompasses medical consultations, diagnoses, prescription services, and care coordination delivered through video conferencing, phone calls, secure messaging, or remote monitoring technology rather than in-person visits. Coverage expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many ACA marketplace and Medicare plans have made broad telehealth benefits permanent through 2026. Medicare covers telehealth for a wide range of services including primary care, mental health, chronic disease management, and dermatology visits when delivered by enrolled providers. Telehealth cost-sharing varies by plan — many insurers charge the same copay as an in-person primary care visit, while some plans offer $0 telehealth for minor acute conditions. Remote patient monitoring, where wearable devices transmit health data to providers, is an expanding category within telehealth reimbursement. State licensure laws still generally require providers to hold a license in the state where the patient is located at the time of service.
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Cover Forge USA Editorial Team
Editorial Lead
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed 2026-06-14
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