Short answer: Yes — many telehealth consultations are covered under Medicare (the Medicare Benefits Schedule, MBS), but cover and rules depend on the type of service, the practitioner, where you and the clinician are located, and whether the consultation meets MBS requirements. Private health insurance usually does not pay for out‑of‑hospital GP/specialist consultations that Medicare funds, though some funds offer their own telehealth GP/virtual care programs outside Medicare rules.

Details and practical points

• Medicare (MBS):
  • Medicare rebates are available for many telehealth items (video and phone) provided by GPs, specialists, some allied health professionals, nurse practitioners, consultant psychiatrists, etc. The telehealth MBS items have the same clinical requirements as face‑to‑face items. (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
  • There are geographic and eligibility rules for some items (for example some items have distance or “telehealth‑eligible area” requirements and some items require an existing clinical relationship or registration with a MyMedicare practice). Rules have been updated at various times (for example changes in 2022, 2024–2025 and further item changes effective 1 March 2025 and other changes from November 2025). Check the specific MBS item for exact eligibility. (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
• Private health insurance:
  • Private health insurers generally cannot cover services that are an out‑of‑hospital service already funded by Medicare (for example usual GP and specialist visits are Medicare-funded). As a result, most private hospital extras policies do not pay a Medicare-eligible GP or specialist consultation. Some insurers do offer their own telehealth or digital-GP services (often limited number of consults or for particular conditions) — these are insurer programs and may be separate from Medicare rebates. (UTS.edu.au)
• Billing options:
  • Telehealth can be bulk‑billed (no out‑of‑pocket) if the clinician chooses to bulk‑bill and you meet the requirements for assignment, or it can be privately billed with or without a Medicare rebate depending on eligibility. Always confirm fees, expected Medicare rebate (if any) and whether bulk‑billing applies before the consultation. (MDANational.com.au)
• Other considerations:
  • Medicare only covers services provided while the patient is in Australia. Privacy, consent and record‑keeping requirements for telehealth are the same as face‑to‑face. Some professions (e.g. nurse practitioners) have had tightening of telehealth rules (established patient relationship, etc.). (support.MIPS.com.au)

If you want to know for a specific planned appointment:

• Ask the clinician or clinic whether the telehealth consult is an MBS item and if they will bulk‑bill or charge a gap.
• If you have private health insurance, ask your insurer what (if any) telehealth services they provide and whether those are separate from Medicare rebates.
• For official MBS eligibility and item descriptions, check Services Australia / MBS Online for the exact item number that applies to your consultation. (servicesaustralia.gov.au)

Would you like me to look up whether a particular telehealth service, MBS item number or a named private insurer’s telehealth offering covers your planned consultation?