The ways telehealth happens
- Video visit: a live visit on your phone, tablet or computer. The clinician can see you, which helps with rashes, swelling, movement or how you look overall.
- Phone (audio-only) visit: a live call. Useful when video isn't possible or for talk-based care such as follow-ups and counseling.
- Secure messaging: questions and answers through a patient portal or app, not in real time.
- Remote monitoring: devices that send readings, such as heart rate, to your care team from home.
When a phone visit counts
| Program | Audio-only rule |
|---|---|
| Medicare, through Dec 31, 2027 | Audio-only telehealth allowed in your home |
| Medicare, from Jan 1, 2028 | Audio-only at home for behavioral health, when the clinician can do video but you can't or don't consent to it |
| Medicare behavioral health | Two-way audio-only permitted |
| Medicaid | States decide whether to allow audio-only |
| Private plans | Set by your plan; check before you book |
Phone visits and work leave
If you need a visit to count toward family and medical leave (FMLA), video matters. The Department of Labor counts a telemedicine visit as an in-person visit only if it includes an exam, evaluation or treatment by a health care provider, is allowed by state licensing rules, and is generally done by video. A simple phone call, letter, email or text isn't enough on its own.
Phone or video: which to choose
- Pick video when the clinician needs to see something, for a first visit, or when you need documentation for work leave.
- A phone call can work for follow-ups, medication questions, results reviews and counseling, if your plan covers it.
- Neither replaces an exam when you need one. MedlinePlus notes some problems need an in-person exam or lab test to diagnose.
Telehealth isn't for emergencies. Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding or thoughts of harming yourself. You can also call or text 988 for mental health crises.
Telehealth with Gabriel
Gabriel Core and Plus include unlimited virtual urgent care, plus unlimited virtual primary care, and Plus adds two in-person urgent care visits a year for when you need to be seen. Asking Gabriel a health question is free by app, web, text or voice. Gabriel membership is not health insurance.
Common questions
Is telehealth a phone call?
It can be. Telehealth includes video visits, phone visits and secure messaging. Whether a phone visit is covered depends on your plan.
Does telehealth have to be video?
Not always. Medicare allows audio-only visits at home through December 31, 2027, and Medicaid lets each state decide. Some uses, such as FMLA documentation, generally need video.
Does Medicare cover telehealth by phone?
Yes, through December 31, 2027. Starting in 2028, audio-only at home continues for behavioral health in certain cases.
Does a phone visit count for FMLA?
The Department of Labor says a simple phone call isn't enough by itself to count as an in-person visit. A telemedicine visit generally needs to be by video and include an exam, evaluation or treatment.
Is a video visit better than a phone visit?
Video lets the clinician see you, which helps for skin, eyes, swelling or movement. A phone call can be fine for follow-ups and talk-based care.
Sources
- Telehealth FAQ (updated October 2026) CMS
- Telehealth Medicaid.gov
- Field Assistance Bulletin 2020-8: telemedicine and FMLA U.S. Department of Labor
- Telehealth MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline SAMHSA
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It does not replace a visit with a licensed clinician. Gabriel membership is not health insurance.