The COVID-19 pandemic changed society in 2020. Schools closed down. Employees were told to work from home. And going to the doctor for routine visits suddenly became a risky prospect.
In response to the circumstances at hand, Medicare expanded enrollees' access to telehealth services in early 2020 to ensure that seniors could safely tend to their medical needs from home. And for several years that followed, the waivers enacted in 2020 remained in place, allowing Medicare enrollees to continue using telehealth services.
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But on Jan. 31, Medicare stopped covering telehealth on a broad level. Now, many enrollees will not be able to get care remotely. And it's a problem.
A service that benefited many people just largely went away
While telehealth may have been necessary back in 2020, since then, it's been a huge benefit to retirees who have mobility issues or lack access to reliable transportation. But effective Jan. 31, Medicare now only covers telehealth services in limited situations.
Medicare will still pay for telehealth for behavioral services. Also, enrollees who live in rural areas may qualify for telehealth. Otherwise, most enrollees will have to get used to visiting a doctor's office for care.
There may be a way to continue accessing telehealth services
If you're someone with mobility issues or you find it hard to physically get to the doctor, Medicare's new telehealth rules might be a huge blow. But there may be a step you can take to get better access to remote care -- switch to a Medicare Advantage plan.
If you're not on Medicare Advantage now, you may need to wait until Medicare's fall open enrollment period to choose a plan. That period starts on Oct. 15. But it's something you may want to consider, because some Medicare Advantage plans may offer access to telehealth beyond what original Medicare does.
Furthermore, it's common for Medicare Advantage plans to offer benefits beyond original Medicare's scope. So if you make a switch, there's a good chance your plan will pay for services like dental care, eye exams, and hearing aids, all of which original Medicare doesn't cover.
Another benefit you might get as a Medicare Advantage enrollee is non-emergency medical transportation. This could make it easier to get to doctor appointments in person.
Remember, some medical issues, by nature, can't be addressed effectively by phone or over video. So it's important to have a way to get to the doctor as needed, despite the rules that remain in place with regard to telehealth services.
If you can't yet make a switch to Medicare Advantage, or you need to stay on original Medicare, it pays to see if there are transportation services available in your community. New York City's Access-A-Ride program, for example, offers door-to-door transportation for people who can't take regular public buses or trains. There may be a similar program where you live.
