Frequently Asked Questions

 Anyone with a serious illness whose doctors think has a short time to live — generally 6 months or less —usually qualifies for hospice care. For Medicare to pay for hospice care, patients must stop medical treatment intended to cure or control their illness.

 Despite the benefits of using hospice care, many people wait to receive hospice care until the final weeks or days of life. It’s important to to talk with your doctor about your illness and how your disease is progressing. Starting hospice early may be able to provide months of meaningful care and quality time with loved ones. 

Most Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance providers will cover some of the services provided by hospice. Older adults enrolled in Medicare can receive hospice care if their healthcare provider thinks they could be terminal. In most cases, they will need to sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered treatments for their illness.

Hospice will cover all medications that are consistent with the patient’s hospice Plan of Care and are related to the terminal condition.