Does AARP/UnitedHealthcare Cover Telehealth?

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Advancements in technology (and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic) have made telehealth an integral part of health care among older adults. And beneficiaries of UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans and will be relieved to know that they’re covered for a variety of Medicare telehealth services. 

Telehealth involves the use of a computer, tablet or smartphone to communicate remotely with a health care provider. It could also involve wearing a device that tracks certain health metrics which are then relayed back to your doctor in a practice known as “remote monitoring.” 

Telehealth allows UnitedHealthcare members to receive care from the comfort and safety of their own home without sacrificing the quality of care or communication received from their doctor. In fact, the majority of patients find the quality of virtual video visits to be no different from that of an in-person visit and many find it’s actually even better than an in-person visit. 

What Telehealth Services Are Covered by UnitedHealthcare Medicare Plans?

A UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan will provide coverage for all telehealth services covered by Medicare Part B, a list that includes 278 total procedures.

You can download the complete List of Telehealth Services for Calendar Year 2023 from cms.gov, the official government website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Some of the covered telehealth services include but aren’t limited to:

• Doctor’s office visits
• Speech therapy
• Cardiac rehab
• Diabetes management
• Depression screenings
• Medical nutrition counseling

Plus, a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan may go above and beyond Original Medicare coverage to provide additional telehealth benefits.  

Current members of a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan can review their telehealth coverage by checking their plan benefits summary online or by calling the phone number on their plan ID card. 

Original Medicare beneficiaries who have a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan can save money on telehealth care by having their telehealth Medicare Part B coinsurance covered in full by their Medigap plan.

Are Covered Telehealth Services Available Through UnitedHealthcare 24/7?

24/7 virtual visits are included with most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans. A UnitedHealthcare virtual visit can be used to address things like headaches, upset stomach, allergies, sinus problems, coughing, skin rashes and much more.

UnitedHealthcare provides 24/7 doctors through its partnerships with Optum Virtual Care, Teladoc, Amwell and Doctor on Demand.

Can I Use Telehealth to Get a Prescription?

Your doctor can prescribe medication during a virtual visit and send the prescription straight to your pharmacy of choice. There, you may use your UnitedHealthcare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug benefits to cover the prescription. 

Are Mental Health and Behavioral Health Services Covered by UnitedHealthcare Telehealth? 

Provided that your plan includes coverage for mental and behavioral health care, you can utilize telehealth to receive these services and have it all covered by UnitedHealthcare. Many such services are available virtually including screenings and counseling for depression, nicotine use, alcohol and opioid abuse, obesity and more. 

How Do I Find a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plan That Covers Telehealth?

You can compare Medicare Advantage plans available where you live to find out if plans that cover telehealth are offered. You can compare plan costs, network coverage, whether a plan covers your drugs and more.