Reimbursement for hospice services comes from Medicare, Medicaid, health maintenance organizations and other private insurance plans. Most of our patients are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid—and almost all of them are surprised to discover this simple fact:

Medicare or Medicaid will pay for all expenses incurred in hospice care related to the patient’s terminal diagnosis.

Private Insurance

Most private insurance or prepaid health plans also provide coverage for hospice care. Hospice care is a fraction of the cost of hospital and nursing care. You should call your insurance company to learn more about your hospice coverage.

What Costs are Covered?

As long as they relate to a life-limiting diagnosis, the following services are generally included in the Hospice Plan of Care:

• Nurses who are specially trained in pain and symptom management who make routine and emergency visits to the patient as needed

• Regular visits by Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) /Hospice Aides to provide personal care

• Social work and counseling services to provide emotional support to the patient and family

• Chaplain services for you and your family

• Visits by trained volunteers

• Temporary respite care at an inpatient facility

• 24-hour on-call medical services

• Dietary counseling

• Durable medical equipment (for example: supplemental oxygen, bedside commode, hospital bed, walker, wheelchair)

• Medical supplies (for example: wound care supplies, incontinence supplies)

• Medication (specified in your Plan of Care)

• Physical, occupational and speech therapy

• Bereavement support for grieving loved ones