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Does Medicare Cover Hospice? 

When a loved one is nearing the end of their life, you may have to make some difficult decisions about their care. One of those decisions may be whether or not to enroll them in hospice. But what happens if you can't afford hospice care? Will your insurance cover it? In this blog post, we will answer that question and discuss how Medicare and Medicaid work with hospice care.

 

In most cases, Medicare and Medicaid will cover the cost of hospice care. This means that there is no deductible or copayment for the patient. Private health plans usually align with Medicare's requirements for hospice coverage. In order to be eligible for hospice benefits, a patient must be diagnosed with a terminal illness and must choose not to receive curative treatment. This means that they are nearing the end of their life and have decided that they no longer want to pursue curative medical care.

 

If you meet all three of the following criteria, then your hospice care should be covered by Medicare Part A

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  • You are eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance). See if you're eligible at Medicare.gov

  • Your doctor and the hospice physician determined that your life expectancy is six months or less. 

  • You wish to receive palliative care for comfort, not treatments aimed at a cure. 

If you meet all three of these criteria, then your hospice care should be covered by Medicare Part A.

 

However, there are still some things that Medicare will not cover. For example, any medications or treatments that you receive from your hospice team must be related to your terminal illness and approved by your doctor.

 

In addition, Medicare will not cover the cost of any inpatient respite care. Respite care is designed to provide relief for your primary caregiver, and can be either inpatient or outpatient.

 

Finally, Medicare does not cover any routine home maintenance services that you may need, such as yard work or housekeeping. These services are considered to be the responsibility of your family or caregivers.

 

If you have any questions about what is covered by Medicare, be sure to contact us. We will be able to help you understand your coverage and make sure that you are getting the care you need.

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