We have become used to some innovations that came out of the Covid era. Doctor’s telehealth visits over a video link became very popular. These visits were covered by Medicare to reduce the rate of infection caused by Covid patients traveling to their doctors. If you had covid you know that the last thing you wanted to do when suffering was get dressed and try to drive to the doctor’s office. But that is also true when you have a really bad cold or the flu.
The Covid era law that authorized these expanded telehealth services had an expiration. Even with an extension by Pres. Biden, Medicare will soon stop covering most telehealth services for seniors.
You can still see your doctor online or over the phone until March 31, 2025. Many telehealth benefits may end on that date unless new laws are passed. If you rely on telehealth, it’s time to start planning for these changes now.
- You may need to be in a rural area to use Medicare telehealth services. Telehealth services may only be available for seniors living in rural areas.
- You will need to travel to an approved location. You may not be able to have telehealth visits from home unless it’s for mental health care or specific conditions. In most cases, you’ll need to travel to an approved location like a doctor’s office or clinic to use telehealth.
- Fewer phone calls will be covered. Some healthcare visits may no longer be covered if they are audio-only (phone calls without video). You may need to have video appointments to have it covered.
If you rely on telehealth visits, have an appointment on April first or after, you will need to consult your physician about what to do now.