Congress locks in zero-deductible telehealth for high-deductible plans
S. 763 — Telehealth Expansion Act of 2025 · Filed by Steve Daines (R-MT) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 27, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill makes permanent a temporary rule that allows high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to cover telehealth services without requiring patients to meet the plan's deductible first. Currently, HDHPs must have a deductible for most services, but this bill exempts telehealth and remote care from that requirement, letting insurers offer zero-deductible telehealth while keeping high deductibles for in-person care.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative function is to remove a sunset provision and make permanent a tax-code exemption that lowers out-of-pocket costs for telehealth under high-deductible plans. It is a straightforward healthcare access measure with no hidden riders or unrelated provisions.
What the text implies
- Permanent exemption may increase telehealth utilization and shift care away from in-person visits, potentially reducing revenue for traditional primary-care practices while benefiting telehealth platforms and remote-care providers.
- By allowing zero-deductible telehealth while maintaining high deductibles for in-person care, the bill creates a two-tier cost structure that may incentivize patients to use telehealth even when in-person care is clinically preferable.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
telehealth platforms and providers; health insurers (via reduced claims costs and increased plan attractiveness); remote care technology companies