Telehealth visits surged during COVID and never went away. In 2025, millions of Americans see doctors, therapists, and specialists virtually every week. But telehealth billing can be confusing — what does insurance cover? How much is the copay? How do you pay afterward? This guide answers all of it.
Does Insurance Cover Telehealth Visits?
Most health insurance plans now cover telehealth visits for a wide range of services. Federal law (the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024) extended Medicare telehealth coverage through 2026, and most private insurers have followed suit with permanent telehealth coverage policies.
Coverage typically includes: primary care visits, mental health therapy, specialist consultations, chronic disease management, prescription refills, and follow-up appointments. Not all services can be delivered via telehealth — physical examinations requiring hands-on assessment still require in-person visits.
How Much Does a Telehealth Visit Cost?
Your cost depends on your plan. Most plans charge the same copay for telehealth as for in-person primary care — typically $15–$40. Some plans offer lower telehealth copays as an incentive to use virtual care. A few plans still charge higher rates, so check your Summary of Benefits before your first virtual visit.
For high-deductible plans, telehealth visits may apply toward your deductible just like in-person visits. The rules vary by plan and service type.
Telehealth Billing Codes: What You'll See on Your Bill
Telehealth visits use the same CPT codes as in-person visits, plus a modifier (95 for video, GT for some Medicare claims) indicating the service was delivered remotely. Common codes: 99213 or 99214 for office visits, 90834 or 90837 for therapy. You may also see a "place of service" code 02 (telehealth) or 10 (patient's home).
How Athena Health Handles Telehealth Billing
Many practices using athenahealth's platform for in-person care also use it for telehealth billing. After your virtual visit, you'll receive a statement with a QuickPay Code — just like an in-person visit. You can pay via the QuickPay Portal at quickpayportal.com or through the patient portal your provider set up on athenahealth's platform.
What If My Telehealth Claim Is Denied?
Denials happen for a few common reasons: the service isn't covered for telehealth delivery, the provider isn't in-network, or the patient's location isn't eligible. To appeal: (1) Get the denial reason in writing from your insurer. (2) Ask your provider to resubmit with corrected codes if the denial was due to coding. (3) File a formal appeal with supporting documentation from your provider explaining medical necessity.
Tips for Lower Telehealth Costs
- Always use your insurance's preferred telehealth platform when available — it's usually free or low-cost
- Ask if your employer offers a free telehealth benefit through their EAP or wellness program
- Use the same in-network provider for telehealth as you do in-person — switching platforms can mean out-of-network charges
- For mental health, therapy platforms like those partnered with your insurer may have $0 copays
- HSA/FSA funds can be used for telehealth copays and bills
Comments 4 comments
Had a telehealth visit with my athenahealth provider last month and paid via QuickPay — super easy. The process is identical to in-person billing.
The tip about checking network status for telehealth separately is so important. My therapist is in-network in person but out-of-network on the telehealth platform. Would have been a nasty surprise.
My employer's EAP gives 8 free telehealth therapy sessions per year. This article reminded me to use them! So valuable.
Good overview. The billing code explanation is helpful — I always wondered what those modifiers were on my EOB.
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