Access to telemedicine has increased in recent years, providing convenient new ways to interact with our care team and stay on top of our health. Since the pandemic, a growing number of older adults are opting for telemedicine—according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 25% of Medicare fee-for-service users took part in this type of service in 2024.1

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine (also called telehealth or “virtual visits”) means interacting with your health care provider(s) by phone, email, or video call.  

Telehealth visits can be used for:

• Regular checkups and follow-ups
• Managing ongoing health conditions
• Getting new prescriptions and/or refills
• Asking your provider questions

What are the benefits of telemedicine?

Telemedicine offers many advantages if you’re an older adult:

• It saves you a trip to the doctor’s office, which means less time traveling and waiting.
• You can talk with your provider from the comfort of your home using a phone, tablet, or computer.
• It makes it easier to manage any chronic conditions you have, get prescriptions, and ask health-related questions.
• It gives you easier access to a broad variety of health care services and specialists.

Virtual visits are especially helpful if you live far away from your providers, have a chronic condition that requires frequent check-ins, or have difficulty getting to and from appointments.

What’s another benefit of telemedicine? It helps you stay in touch with your care team while lowering your risk of exposure to illnesses like COVID or the flu. This is particularly important during winter virus season and when cases are spiking in your community.

Does Medicare cover telemedicine?

Yes. Original Medicare covers telehealth services under Part B.  You are responsible for 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for your health care provider's services.

Some examples of Medicare-covered telehealth benefits include preventive health screenings, post-surgical follow-up, and treatment of recurring conditions (e.g., migraines or urinary tract infections). Medicare also provides coverage for mental health treatment, including online therapy and counseling.

How do I prepare for a telemedicine visit?

Preparing for a telemedicine visit is similar to prepping for any health care visit. But there are a few important extra steps you’ll want to take to get the most out of your time with your health care provider.

Here are four key tips to help make your telemedicine visit as beneficial as possible:

1. Get ready

• Check your technology to ensure it can accommodate a telehealth visit. If you don’t know how to navigate this, ask a technology-savvy friend or family member for help.
• Write down a list of your symptoms and concerns; be specific.
• Practice what you want to say to your provider. That way, you won’t leave anything out.
• Write down a list of all medications you’re currently taking (prescription and non-prescription), along with the dosage.

2. Find a quiet space

• Turn off background noise such as TVs and radios.
• Ask others in your home to keep the noise level down.
• If you live with other people, find an empty room to have your virtual visit and close the door. Consider using headphones during the call for added privacy.

3. Tell your health care provider everything

• Summarize your condition, list all symptoms, and explain your concerns.
• Share any changes in your medical history and any major life events like a serious illness or surgery.
• If you use home health monitoring devices, you might be asked to share readings with your provider (e.g., blood pressure, pulse, oxygen levels, temperature). This often involves using a dedicated patient portal or smartphone app. Your provider may use this information to adjust treatment plans and monitor your health remotely.

4. Agree on a treatment plan

• After your doctor explains your treatment plan, repeat it back in your own words. This helps confirm you understood the instructions correctly. It also gives your provider a chance to clear up any confusion or explain things more simply, so you feel confident about your care plan.
• Take notes and ask questions such as: What are the risks/benefits of treatment? Are there other ways to treat my condition? Will insurance pay? Will I need medication? If so, what are the potential side effects?
• Ask your doctor for resources that can provide additional information about your condition and treatment. Schedule a follow-up visit, if necessary.

As with any health care visit, you may prefer to have a trusted friend or family member by your side. That person can be responsible for taking notes so you can focus fully on your conversation with your provider.

Telemedicine offers a practical way to stay connected to the care you need to age well. By making the most of virtual visits, you can manage your health, get timely support, and rest easy knowing help is just a call (or click) away.

Source

1. HHS. Telehealth Trends. Found on the internet at https://telehealth.hhs.gov/research-trends