The Rise of Telehealth
Telehealth usage exploded during the pandemic and has become a permanent fixture of American healthcare. In 2026, virtually all major health insurance plans include some form of telehealth coverage, but the details vary significantly between plans.
What Telehealth Services Are Covered?
Most health plans now cover a wide range of virtual care services:
- Primary care visits: Routine check-ins, medication refills, and minor illness diagnosis
- Mental health therapy: Video sessions with therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists
- Specialist consultations: Dermatology, cardiology, and other specialist visits
- Urgent care: After-hours care for non-emergency issues
- Chronic condition management: Diabetes, hypertension, and other ongoing conditions
Telehealth Costs and Copays
Many plans offer telehealth visits at lower copays than in-person visits — sometimes as low as $0 for primary care. Some plans include unlimited telehealth through platforms like Teladoc or MDLive as an extra benefit.
Mental Health and Telehealth
Telehealth has been particularly transformative for mental health care. Therapy and psychiatry sessions via video are now covered on par with in-person visits under the Mental Health Parity Act, making care more accessible than ever.
Choosing a Plan with Good Telehealth Coverage
- Check if your plan includes a telehealth platform at no additional cost
- Compare telehealth copays vs. in-person visit copays
- Verify that your preferred telehealth providers are in-network
- Look for plans that cover mental health telehealth visits
