Medicare is ending this important service in 2026: What recipients need to know

Nearly 70 million Americans rely on Medicare for healthcare coverage — 90% of which are people aged 65 years and older.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare expanded telehealth coverage so beneficiaries could see doctors, therapists, and other practitioners from home without traveling to a healthcare facility.

But soon, that convenience will come to an end.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently updated its Telehealth FAQ for FY 2026 , confirming that many pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities will end on Jan. 30, 2026, unless Congress intervenes.

For now, beneficiaries can continue telehealth visits from home, but after Jan. 31, 2026, CMS will revert to pre-pandemic rules:

Medicare beneficiaries will generally need to be in a medical facility in a rural area to