Hospice Cost Calculator for Michigan Families
Updated October 2026 with Medicare’s fiscal year 2027 hospice rates (in effect from October 1, 2026). Written and reviewed by the Lily Hospice clinical team.
For most Michigan families, hospice care itself costs nothing out of pocket. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Michigan Medicaid pay the hospice directly. This calculator shows the few costs that can remain, such as respite, prescription copays and facility room and board, for your situation.
What hospice costs in Michigan, in plain numbers
When a person chooses the Medicare hospice benefit, Medicare pays the hospice a fixed daily rate and the hospice becomes responsible for nearly everything related to the terminal illness: nursing and aide visits, the hospital bed and oxygen, comfort medications, supplies, social work, chaplain care, and grief support for the family afterward. There is no deductible. Medicare Advantage members are covered the same way through Original Medicare, and Michigan Medicaid has a hospice benefit that mirrors Medicare’s.
| Level of care | Medicare national base rate from Oct 1, 2026 | What the family pays |
|---|---|---|
| Routine home care, days 1 to 60 | $236.35 a day | $0 |
| Routine home care, day 61 and after | $186.35 a day | $0 |
| Continuous home care (crisis care at home) | $1,726.50 per 24 hours | $0 |
| Inpatient respite care (up to 5 days) | $545.98 a day | 5%, about $27.30 a day |
| General inpatient care (symptoms that cannot be managed at home) | $1,231.63 a day | $0 |
Source: CMS fiscal year 2027 hospice final rule. Rates are before local wage adjustment. The respite coinsurance is capped at the Medicare inpatient hospital deductible, which is $1,736 in 2026.
The three costs that can remain
- Prescription copays. Medicare allows hospices to charge up to $5 per prescription for pain and symptom medications. Lily does not bill this copay; ask any hospice you are considering.
- Respite care. A short facility stay of up to five days so a family caregiver can rest. The family’s share is 5% of Medicare’s rate, about $27.30 a day.
- Room and board. Hospice does not pay rent in assisted living or memory care, or long-term nursing-home room and board. Michigan Medicaid pays nursing-home room and board for residents who qualify. Read Hospice and Long-Term-Care Medicaid in Michigan.
For the full explanation, see How Much Does Hospice Cost in Michigan?, Does Medicare Cover Hospice in Michigan? and Hospice with Medicaid Only, or No Insurance. To compare hospices that serve your ZIP code, use our hospice finder. Not sure it is time? Start with Is It Time for Hospice?
Common questions
Does hospice cost anything with Medicare?
Usually nothing. Medicare Part A covers hospice care related to the terminal illness with no deductible. The only charges Medicare allows are up to $5 per prescription for comfort medications and 5% of the cost of inpatient respite care, about $27.30 a day from October 2026.
Is hospice free with Medicare Advantage in Michigan?
Yes, on the same terms as Original Medicare. Once hospice begins, Original Medicare pays the hospice. The Advantage plan keeps covering care unrelated to the terminal illness and any extra benefits it offers.
Does hospice pay for a nursing home or assisted living?
No. Hospice pays for hospice care delivered there, not the rent or room and board. Michigan Medicaid can pay nursing-home room and board for residents who qualify, but not assisted living rent.
How much does Medicare pay a hospice per day in 2026 and 2027?
From October 1, 2026, Medicare’s national base rate for routine home care is $236.35 a day for the first 60 days and $186.35 a day after that, before local wage adjustment. From October 2025 to September 2026 it was $230.83 and $181.94.
What if we have no insurance?
Call before you worry. People 65 or older can usually start Medicare enrollment right away, and people under 65 can apply for Michigan Medicaid with coverage that can reach back up to three months. Lily’s social worker helps with the application.
Hospice isn’t giving up. It’s showing up. Questions about cost? Call Lily Hospice at (248) 955-5100. A real person answers, 24 hours a day.