“We can’t afford hospice” is one of the saddest myths we hear, because for most families it is the opposite of the truth. Under the Medicare hospice benefit, hospice care related to a person’s terminal illness is generally covered, and most families pay little or nothing out of pocket for the care itself.
This article is general education, not a benefits determination for your specific situation. The best way to know exactly what applies to your loved one is to ask directly, which costs nothing.
What the Medicare hospice benefit generally covers
- Visits from the hospice team, including nurses, aides, a social worker, and a chaplain
- Medications for symptom control and pain relief related to the illness
- Medical equipment such as a hospital bed, wheelchair, or oxygen
- Medical supplies related to the illness
- Short-term inpatient care and respite care for caregivers, in defined circumstances
- Grief and bereavement support for the family
What is usually not included
Room and board is generally not covered if a person lives in a facility, and treatments meant to cure the terminal illness are not part of the hospice benefit. There may be small copayments in some cases, such as a limited copay for certain prescriptions or a share of the cost for respite care.
The real cost is usually waiting
Families who delay hospice often spend far more, in emergency room visits, hospital stays, and stress, than they ever would have on hospice, which is largely covered. And the cost that cannot be measured is the time that hospice could have given back.
Find out what applies to you
The simplest way to understand your loved one’s coverage is to ask. At Lily Hospice, we will walk you through it with no pressure and no obligation. A real person answers our phone, any hour. Call (248) 955-5100 or reach out here.
Hospice isn’t giving up. It’s showing up.
