Considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury, hospice care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's needs and wishes. Support is provided to the patient's loved ones as well. At the center of hospice and palliative care is the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and that our families will receive the necessary support to allow us to do so.
The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers all related costs associated with care that is related to the lifelimiting diagnosis. There may be some medications, services and/or equipment that are not included in the Medicare Hospice benefit but your hospice team will advise you of those when care is delivered. At this time, there is no individual co-payment for hospice services covered under the traditional Medicare benefit.
Medicare Advantage programs may have different coverage criteria and co-payment responsibilities.
Medicaid pays for all related costs associated with care directed toward the lifelimiting condition. Like Medicare, there MAY be some services, medications, or equipment not covered by Medicaid. Your Hospice team can provide further information.
Most private insurers have a hospice benefit that pays for costs associated with treatment. Coverage is typically driven by individual and/or group plan design. Coverage and co-payment responsibilities may differ by plan.