Telehealth is no longer just a pandemic-era convenience. A new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that virtual healthcare has become a regular part of life for millions of older Americans insured through Medicare.

Researchers found that Medicare beneficiaries logged approximately 60 million telehealth visits annually between 2021 and 2023. Roughly 31 million of those appointments were related to mental health services, while another 29 million covered a wide range of medical conditions, including chronic disease management, respiratory illnesses, and routine follow-up care.

The findings highlight how dramatically healthcare delivery has changed in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual medicine.

Telehealth Usage Among Seniors Remains Far Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

Before 2020, telehealth was rarely used among Medicare patients. In 2019, only about 1.7% of Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth services, representing fewer than one million people nationwide. Access was largely limited to rural communities and specific approved medical facilities.

That changed rapidly during the pandemic when federal regulators temporarily expanded Medicare telehealth coverage.

The number of Medicare patients using virtual care surged to roughly 53% in 2021, or nearly 28.3 million people at the peak of the public health emergency.

Although virtual appointments have declined somewhat since then, healthcare analysts note that telehealth usage remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. For many older adults, especially those with mobility issues or chronic illnesses, online healthcare visits have become an important alternative to traveling to a doctor’s office.

Seniors Using Telehealth Often Face More Health Challenges

The study also found that Medicare patients who relied on telehealth services tended to be in poorer overall health than those who only attended in-person appointments. These patients frequently reported greater physical limitations and more difficulty managing daily activities.

Researchers used data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey, a large national survey designed to track how Americans access and pay for healthcare. The analysis provides a broader picture of how Medicare beneficiaries are using telehealth across the country.

The findings suggest that telehealth may play an especially important role for people who struggle with transportation, live far from healthcare providers, or manage multiple chronic conditions.

Medicare’s Future Telehealth Coverage Is Still Being Debated

Congress permanently extended Medicare telehealth coverage for mental health services in 2021. However, expanded coverage for many other types of virtual care — including treatment for diabetes, respiratory infections, and other non-mental-health conditions — is currently scheduled to expire in 2027 unless lawmakers act again.

Healthcare experts warn that reducing telehealth access could make it harder for many seniors to receive consistent care, particularly those with geographic or physical barriers that limit in-person visits.

At the same time, researchers say more studies are still needed to evaluate whether telehealth outcomes consistently match traditional office visits across different medical conditions.

Telehealth Platforms Continue Expanding Beyond Traditional Insurance Models

As telehealth becomes more mainstream, many digital healthcare companies are experimenting with alternative payment models, especially in the rapidly growing GLP-1 weight loss market.

One example is MEDVi, a telehealth platform offering access to GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. Unlike traditional Medicare-based healthcare services, MEDVi primarily operates as a cash-pay platform rather than working directly with insurance providers.

The company advertises plans starting at $179 and states that “no insurance” is required. MEDVi has also promoted offers such as “$120 Instantly on Your First Month + Free Shipping” for eligible new GLP-1 patients. According to multiple telehealth comparison reports published in 2026, MEDVi does not directly accept insurance coverage for its services.

In practice, this means patients usually pay out of pocket for consultations and medications. The platform instead focuses on lower cash-price access to compounded GLP-1 medications rather than insurance reimbursement for brand-name drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound.

MEDVi also states that it supports HSA and FSA payments, allowing eligible patients to use pre-tax healthcare funds for purchases if their accounts permit it.

Ro and LifeMD are two of the largest and most well-known American telemedicine brands. They are complete digital health ecosystems: from erectile dysfunction, baldness, and dermatology treatments to large-scale weight loss programs with original brand drugs (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic).

However, patients specifically seeking insurance-covered access to brand-name GLP-1 medications may prefer platforms such as Ro or LifeMD, which more actively assist with prior authorizations and insurance processing.

Questions Around Regulation and Quality Remain

While telehealth adoption continues to grow, some concerns remain unresolved.

Researchers behind the Medicare study acknowledged that they did not directly evaluate quality of care outcomes in their analysis. Future studies are expected to examine whether telehealth visits are equally effective for managing conditions like diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

Separately, some telehealth companies operating in the compounded GLP-1 market — including MEDVi — have faced regulatory and marketing scrutiny in 2026 related to advertising practices and the promotion of compounded medications.

Still, the broader trend is clear: telehealth has evolved from an emergency solution into a permanent feature of modern healthcare. For millions of seniors insured through Medicare, virtual care is now a routine part of managing both physical and mental health.