Who pays for hospice care?
Medicare
Hospice care is a covered benefit under Medicare for patients with a prognosis
of six months or less. A patient can remain in hospice care beyond six months
if a physician re-certifies that the patient is terminally ill.
This benefit covers all services, medications and equipment related to the
illness. These include:
Physician services
Nursing services
Home health aides
Medical appliances, medication, and supplies
Spiritual, dietary, and other counseling
Continuous home-care or inpatient care during crisis periods
Trained volunteers
Bereavement services
Social work services
Inpatient Respite
24/7 On-call Support
Note: A patient can be on
a Medicare Advantage Plan and Hospice.
Medicare is financially responsible for Hospice related care and the
Medicare Advantage Plan is responsible for all covered non-Hospice related
care.