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Medicare Hospice Benefit

Hospice is a special way to care for someone who is terminally ill. Instead of focusing on curing an illness, the specially trained hospice team focuses on providing comfort and support that cares for the “whole person,” including the patient’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.

 

Someone who is on Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) or a Medicare Advantage plan can elect to receive Medicare Hospice benefits to treat the terminal illness. To be eligible for this special benefit, the patient’s doctor and the hospice medical director must certify that the patient is terminally ill and has six months or less to live. “Hospice patients typically receive care in the comfort of their home by Medicare-approved hospice programs,” explained Morie Smile, State Director, "which is what many of our members have told us is important to them.” The program also provides support to family members who are caring for the patient.

 

The hospice plan of care established by the patient’s attending physician and the hospice team can include a variety of services not otherwise covered by Medicare. In addition to physicians’ services, Medicare Hospice covers:

 

The hospice can charge no more than $5 for medications for pain relief and symptom control. It can also charge a small fee to care for the patient on an inpatient basis if the usual caregiver needs a break. If the patient needs treatment for health problems unrelated to the terminal illness they would use their regular Part A and Part B benefits. Hospice patients always have the right to stop hospice care and go back to Medicare coverage.

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