Medicare covers telehealth services, such as online therapy, under Part B and Medicare Advantage (Part C). Online therapy allows you to speak with a mental health care professional remotely via computer or mobile phone.
In September 2025, changes will go into effect that limit access to telehealth services to individuals who meet certain requirements.
For the first 9 months of 2025, anyone enrolled in Medicare can access telehealth services from anywhere in the country, including their home. However, starting in September 2025, you need to be at a doctor’s office or a medical building in a rural region to access Medicare-covered telehealth services.
There are certain exceptions to this rule, including one that would apply to some people seeking online therapy. After September 30, 2025, you can still get Medicare coverage for online therapy in your home if it’s for the “diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of a mental and/or behavioral health disorder.”
If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you may have expanded access to telehealth services, including online therapy. Regardless of what type of Medicare plan you have, it’s best to speak with your doctor and insurance provider to learn what type of coverage you qualify for.
If you don’t qualify for telehealth services under the new rules, you still have options for therapy with Medicare.
Through Part B, Medicare enrollees can access a range of mental health care services in an outpatient environment. These include:
- a free depression screening in a doctor’s office
- individual or group psychotherapy with a doctor or Medicare-enrolled professional
- family counseling
- psychiatric evaluation
After you meet the Part B deductible of $257, you will pay 20% of the Medicare-approved cost for the service. You may have an additional copayment, depending on where you receive it.