Medicare Hospice Care Coverage

For terminally ill patients, Medicare’s hospice benefit can provide support, care, and rest. Hospice Care primarily includes medical and nursing care, therapy, medication for the terminal and related conditions, and durable medical equipment. Designed to allow quality-of-life for these patients, it doesn’t cover treatment to cure the terminal illness. However, regular Medicare benefits will continue to cover treatments unrelated to the disease.

A number of services are covered by Original Medicare’s Hospice Care coverage. The medical and support care include doctor’s services, skilled nursing, home health aide, and respite care. Medicare Hospice Care also covers physical therapy, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, dietary counseling, and patient/family counseling. Drugs to control symptoms and provide pain relief are also included, as are wheelchairs, walkers, and wound dressings.

In order to be eligible for Medicare’s hospice benefit, recipients must have Medicare part A. Their doctor and a hospice medical director must certify that the recipient likely has six months or less to live and is, indeed, terminally ill. The recipient must also sign a statement choosing Hospice Care rather than routine Medicare covered benefits. This is important, since Hospice Care does not cover any curative treatments. Finally, the recipient must receive care from a Medicare-approved hospice program.

To find out more, call your State Hospice Organization, your Regional Home Health Intermediary, or 1-800-MEDICARE. If you or someone you love is terminally ill, sometimes Hospice Care is the best option. Although it doesn’t attempt to cure the illness, it can offer comfort and peace.