Issue #52: August 2026

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Sometimes, getting to the doctor's office can be a challenge.

Maybe your doctor is an hour away. Perhaps your car is in the shop, or you rely on a family member or friend for a ride. Sometimes you're just not feeling well enough to make the trip, but you still want to talk with your doctor about health concerns.

If any of those situations sound familiar, telehealth may be worth exploring. When you call to schedule an appointment with your provider, ask whether telehealth is right for your situation.

Telehealth lets you have certain appointments without traveling to the office. Depending on the type of visit, you may talk with your healthcare provider by phone or have a video visit using a smartphone, tablet (such as an iPad), or computer, all from the comfort of your own home.

Your provider may be your doctor, a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, or other medical professional.

During a telehealth visit, you can talk about symptoms, review medications, go over test results, ask questions about your health, or follow up on an ongoing condition.

Keep in mind that in some cases, your provider may determine during the telehealth visit that you should still go to the office for an in-person exam. Telehealth isn't the right choice for every appointment. Sometimes you need to be examined in person. Physical tests may be needed, or you may need treatment that can't be provided during a phone or video visit.

Medicare Part B covers many telehealth services. Before your appointment, ask your provider’s office whether a telehealth visit would be covered by Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can check directly with your plan, as coverage may vary.

To learn more about Medicare telehealth coverage, visit:
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth.

Getting Ready for Your Appointment

Whether your appointment is in person or by telehealth, a little preparation can help you get the most out of your visit.

Before your appointment:

• Write down any questions or concerns you'd like to discuss.
• Keep a current list of your medications nearby.
• Have a pen and paper handy, so you can write down instructions or next steps.
• If you'd like, ask a family member or caregiver to join the appointment.

Health care shouldn't be harder due to difficulties traveling to your provider. The next time making the trip feels like the biggest obstacle, ask whether telehealth could be an option. It might save you a drive and help you get the care you need sooner.

After a hospital stay, going straight home isn't always the next step. Sometimes you need a little more time to regain your strength before you're ready. That's when your doctor may recommend a stay in rehabilitation (rehab). While in rehab, you may work with physical and occupational therapies to help with healing. You may also receive skilled nursing care.

Many people are surprised to learn that rehab care is often provided in a nursing home. Many nursing homes have a rehab or skilled nursing unit where people receive short-term care after a hospital stay. Medicare calls this type of care a skilled nursing facility.

If you or a loved one ever needs rehab, here's one piece of advice:

Don't wait until you're getting ready to go home to start asking questions. Instead, start on day one of your stay.

You might be wondering, "Why does it matter when I start asking questions?"

Every day you're in rehab, your nurses and therapists keep track of how you're doing and add notes to your medical record. If you later disagree with a decision that your Medicare-covered rehab services are ending and request an appeal, the doctors reviewing your appeal will rely heavily on those records. That's why speaking up from the start is so important.

Here are four simple ways to stay involved in your care from day one.

1. Know your therapy goals. Ask your therapist what you're working toward and what you'll need to do before it’s safe to go home. Understanding your goals can help you follow your progress and know what to expect.

2. Speak up if something changes. Having more pain? Feeling weaker? Finding therapy harder than it was yesterday? Tell your nurse or therapist. Don't assume they already know. Ask that important changes be included in your medical record.

3. Keep a notebook. Write down your questions, therapy goals, and conversations with your care team. If something changes or you think of a question later, you'll have it written down. Your notebook won't become part of your medical record, but it can help you remember important details and make it easier to ask questions.

4. Know your Medicare rights. Sometimes people receive a notice saying their Medicare-covered rehab services are ending. If you don't agree with that decision, you have the right to request an appeal. Knowing your rights and staying involved in your care from the very beginning can help you feel more prepared if that happens.

To learn more about appeals, please visit our appeals page.

There’s a lot more to know about Medicare-covered rehab services and your appeal rights than we could cover here. Our latest Aging Health Matters podcast explains how skilled nursing facility benefits work, what happens if your services are ending, and practical ways to stay involved in your care.

We invite you to listen: Episode 42: Protecting Your Skilled Nursing Facility Benefits: What You Should Know.