Telehealth visits accounted for 37% of all primary care appointments in 2025 — up from 1% in 2019. For adults over 60, virtual visits eliminate the drive, the waiting room, the parking struggle, and the exposure to sick patients. Medicare now covers telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits through at least 2026, with no geographic restrictions. If you haven't tried it yet, here's exactly how to set up and make the most of virtual healthcare.
What You Need: The Basic Setup
Setting Up for Telehealth
What Telehealth Can and Can't Do
Appropriate vs. Inappropriate Telehealth Visits
| Good for Telehealth | Better In-Person |
|---|---|
| Medication refills and adjustments | New chest pain or shortness of breath |
| Follow-up on known conditions (diabetes, hypertension) | First evaluation of a new lump or skin lesion |
| Mental health therapy and psychiatry | Physical examination needed (abdomen, joint, ear) |
| Reviewing lab results or imaging | Procedures (injections, biopsies, stitches) |
| Cold and flu symptoms (mild) | Severe symptoms requiring vital signs |
| Chronic disease management check-ins | Balance or neurological concerns |
| Dermatology (rashes, moles — photo-based) | Anything requiring blood draw or urine sample |
| Diet, exercise, and lifestyle counseling | Post-surgical wound checks (initially) |
Getting the Most From Your Virtual Visit
- Write down your questions BEFORE the call — the same advice as in-person, but even more important when the screen feels rushed
- Have all medications visible — line up your bottles in front of the camera so the doctor can read labels
- Wear loose clothing if the doctor might ask you to show a body part — rash, swelling, range of motion
- Take vitals beforehand if you have home equipment: blood pressure cuff ($30-$60), pulse oximeter ($15-$25), digital thermometer ($10). Report numbers at the start of the visit.
- Bring a family member on the call if you want a second set of ears — most platforms allow a second device to join
- Ask for a written visit summary — most patient portals generate one automatically, but request it if they don't
Medicare and Telehealth Coverage in 2026
Medicare covers telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits for all beneficiaries through at least the end of 2026. This includes: office visits, mental health counseling, physical and occupational therapy evaluations, chronic care management, and substance abuse treatment. You can be seen from home — geographic restrictions that previously limited telehealth to rural areas have been waived.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If your video freezes: turn off video and continue as audio-only, or disconnect and reconnect. If the doctor can't hear you: check that you're not on mute, and confirm the correct microphone is selected in the app's settings. If you can't log in: call your doctor's office — they can often switch to a simple phone call instead. The visit is still covered by Medicare even if it's audio-only.
Telehealth isn't replacing your doctor — it's removing the barriers between you and your doctor. Once you've done it once, you'll wonder why you ever drove 40 minutes for a 10-minute medication review.