For many seniors, telehealth started as a temporary pandemic convenience and quickly became a lifeline. Retirees managing heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, mobility issues, or mental health concerns discovered they could speak with doctors without sitting for hours in waiting rooms or arranging transportation across town. Federal lawmakers initially treated many telehealth expansions as emergency measures, but recent rule changes and Medicare extensions have transformed several virtual healthcare benefits into standard parts of care for millions of older Americans. These changes are especially important for seniors in rural areas, those with disabilities, and retirees caring for spouses at home. Here are four telehealth services that are now considered standard under recent federal changes.
