A telehealth visit lets you speak with a healthcare professional without traveling to a clinic. Depending on the provider and your healthcare needs, the appointment may take place by video, phone, secure messaging, or through a patient portal.
A virtual appointment can be useful for routine follow-up care, medication reviews, mental health services, common illnesses, and discussions about test results. However, some symptoms and conditions still need a physical examination, testing, imaging, or treatment at a medical facility.
What is a telehealth visit?
During a telehealth visit, you and your healthcare professional are in different locations and communicate through technology.
The appointment may involve:
- A live video call.
- A telephone appointment.
- Secure messages through a patient portal.
- An electronic consultation between healthcare professionals.
- Remote monitoring of information such as blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, or heart rate.
A telehealth appointment is similar to a regular office visit, except you speak with your provider by phone or video instead of going to the clinic.
Your provider may ask about your symptoms, medications, medical history, and recent health changes. Depending on your needs, they may review test results, renew a prescription, discuss treatment options, or ask you to come in for a physical examination.
See the Telehealth.HHS.gov introduction to virtual healthcare visits.
When can telehealth be useful?
Telehealth can support many types of care, including:
- Follow-up appointments.
- Medication reviews.
- Mental and behavioral health care.
- Nutrition counseling.
- Common illnesses such as colds or an upset stomach.
- Some headaches, infections, and skin concerns.
- Reviewing laboratory or imaging results.
- Follow-up care after surgery.
- Some physical or occupational therapy services.
- Monitoring ongoing conditions with information collected at home.
Your healthcare professional will decide whether a virtual appointment is appropriate for your symptoms and medical history.
See the HHS guide to care that may be provided through telehealth.
What are the benefits of a telehealth visit?
Telehealth may make it easier to receive care when you live far from a clinic, have limited transportation, need frequent follow-up appointments, or have difficulty leaving home.
Other possible benefits include:
- Less travel time.
- Fewer transportation expenses.
- Less time away from work or family responsibilities.
- Faster access to some appointments.
- Access to healthcare professionals who are not nearby.
- Less exposure to contagious illnesses in a waiting room.
Convenience should not replace the type of care you need. Your provider may recommend an office visit when they cannot safely evaluate or treat the problem remotely.
Telehealth visit pathway
What happens before, during, and after a virtual visit
The exact process varies by provider, but most telehealth appointments include these four stages.
- Confirm the appointment
Check the date, time, visit type, patient portal, insurance coverage, and expected cost.
- Prepare your information
Test your device and gather your medications, questions, symptoms, and requested health readings.
- Meet with your provider
Discuss your health concern, review results, ask questions, and agree on the next steps.
- Complete the follow-up
Review your visit summary, fill prescriptions, schedule tests, or arrange in-person care when needed.
Prepare for your telehealth visit
A few simple steps can make the appointment easier and give you more time to focus on your health.
Check the appointment details
Confirm:
- The appointment date and time.
- Whether the visit will use video or phone.
- Which app, website, or patient portal you need.
- Whether you need to complete forms before the visit.
- What to do if the connection does not work.
Sign in a few minutes early so you have time to resolve technical problems.
Test your technology
For most video visits, you need:
- A smartphone, tablet, or computer.
- A working camera.
- A microphone and speaker.
- A reliable internet or cellular connection.
- A charged device or nearby power source.
Test the camera, microphone, speaker, and internet connection before the appointment.
If you do not have video access, ask whether the provider can offer a telephone visit. Phone appointments are not suitable or covered for every medical situation.
See the HHS technology guide for telehealth patients.
Find a suitable place
Choose a quiet, well-lit location where you can speak privately. Place the camera at eye level and make sure the provider can see your face clearly.
Do not join a telehealth visit while driving. Avoid places where other people can hear your medical conversation unless you want a trusted family member or caregiver to participate.
Prepare your health information
Keep the following information nearby:
- Your current medication list and doses.
- Your allergies.
- A short description of your symptoms.
- When the symptoms began.
- Questions you want to ask.
- Your preferred pharmacy information.
- Recent test results when the provider requested them.
- Home readings such as temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, weight, or oxygen level when available and requested.
Ask your provider whether you need an interpreter, closed captions, a screen reader, or another accessibility service.
Will insurance cover a telehealth visit?
Telehealth coverage and patient costs vary by insurance plan, provider, type of service, and state.
Before scheduling the visit, ask:
- Does my plan cover this type of telehealth service?
- Is the healthcare professional in-network?
- Does the plan require a referral?
- Is prior authorization required?
- Will I owe a copayment, deductible, or coinsurance?
- Will the cost differ from an in-person appointment?
- Does the plan cover telephone appointments, or does it require video?
Many private insurance plans cover telehealth, but their requirements are not identical. Medicaid coverage can also vary by state.
See the HHS guide to paying for telehealth services.
Medicare telehealth coverage
Medicare Part B covers certain telehealth services. Through December 31, 2027, eligible patients can receive qualifying Medicare telehealth services from locations across the United States, including their homes.
After the Part B deductible, a patient generally pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. The actual amount can depend on the service, provider, other insurance, and whether the visit meets Medicare’s coverage requirements.
See the Medicare telehealth coverage and cost information.
Protect your privacy during the visit
Use your healthcare provider’s official app, website, or patient portal for the appointment.
If someone unexpectedly contacts you and asks for personal, medical, or insurance information, do not share it right away. Call the provider’s regular office number first and confirm that the request is genuine.
You can also protect your information by:
- Joining the appointment from a private place.
- Using headphones when other people are nearby.
- Using a password-protected device.
- Keeping your device and apps updated.
- Avoiding public Wi-Fi when discussing private medical information.
- Using secure messages through the provider’s portal.
- Signing out when the appointment ends.
- Avoiding links from unexpected emails or text messages.
Federal and state privacy rules require covered healthcare providers to protect patient information. Providers should use appropriate safeguards for telehealth communications and data.
See the HHS telehealth privacy and security guidance.
What should you do if the connection fails?
Technology problems can happen even when you prepare in advance.
When the video stops working:
- Check that your microphone and camera are turned on.
- Close other apps that may be using the camera or internet connection.
- Leave the appointment and sign in again.
- Move closer to your Wi-Fi router when possible.
- Restart the app or device.
- Call the provider’s office.
- Ask whether the visit can continue by phone or needs to be rescheduled.
Do not send medical or insurance details through an unsecured message simply because the video connection failed.
When might you need in-person care?
Telehealth is useful for many appointments, but some health concerns cannot be fully evaluated by phone or video.
Your provider may ask you to visit a medical office, urgent care center, laboratory, imaging facility, or emergency department when you need:
- A physical examination.
- Laboratory testing.
- Imaging.
- A procedure or treatment.
- Closer medical monitoring.
- An evaluation of symptoms that cannot be assessed safely from a distance.
A virtual visit can help your provider review your symptoms and recommend the next step. Follow their instructions when they tell you to seek in-person care.
Telehealth may support triage and emergency follow-up, but it should not delay immediate care. See the HHS information about telehealth and emergency care.
What happens after the telehealth visit?
Before the appointment ends, make sure you understand the next steps.
Your provider may:
- Send a visit summary through the patient portal.
- Send a prescription to your pharmacy.
- Order laboratory testing or imaging.
- Recommend home care.
- Refer you to another healthcare professional.
- Schedule another virtual appointment.
- Ask you to come to the clinic for an examination.
Write down important instructions during the appointment. Contact the provider’s office when something is unclear or when you do not receive an expected prescription, referral, test order, or visit summary.
See the HHS guidance on follow-up after a telehealth visit.
Questions to ask before your telehealth appointment
- Is telehealth suitable for my health concern?
- Will the appointment use video or telephone?
- Which app or patient portal should I use?
- What should I do if the appointment link does not work?
- What information or health readings should I prepare?
- Is the healthcare professional in-network?
- Does my insurance cover this type of visit?
- Will I owe a copayment, deductible, or coinsurance?
- Do I need a referral or prior authorization?
- Can a family member, caregiver, or interpreter join the appointment?
- How will I receive prescriptions and test orders?
- How will I access my visit summary?
- What symptoms would require in-person or emergency care?
Frequently asked questions
Is telehealth the same as telemedicine?
The terms are often used in similar ways. Telemedicine usually refers to clinical care provided from a distance, while telehealth can also include remote monitoring, secure messages, health education, and other technology-supported services.
Do I need video for every telehealth visit?
No. Some services may be provided by telephone or secure messaging. The available option depends on the provider, your health concern, insurance rules, and applicable healthcare requirements.
Can a telehealth provider ask me to come to the clinic?
Yes. Your provider may recommend in-person care when they need to examine you, perform testing, provide treatment, or monitor your condition more closely.
Does insurance always cover telehealth?
No. Coverage depends on your insurance plan, the provider, the service, and where you live. Confirm coverage and expected costs before the appointment.
Can I use public Wi-Fi for a telehealth visit?
A private, password-protected connection is generally safer. When public internet is your only option, choose a private location and confirm that your provider uses a secure platform.
What should I do if I receive a suspicious appointment link?
Do not open it or provide personal information. Call the provider’s regular office number and ask whether the message came from the practice.
Can someone join the appointment with me?
Usually, you can ask a trusted family member, caregiver, interpreter, or support person to join. Tell your provider who is present and make sure you are comfortable discussing your health in front of that person.