How Much Does Hospice Cost?
• Generally hospice costs less than hospital care, nursing homes, or other institutions due to help from insurance companies and government services. • Usually, the costs will only be for the services that the family cannot provide, but this may vary depending on the situation. Hospice care may cost more when additional services or long-term and/or specialized care are needed. • Because of volunteers, some services, like meals-on-wheels, friendly visits, and telephone reassurance may be free or cost a low fee. • When a patient age 65 or older is transferred to hospice, Medicare may help relieve some of the hospice care costs. To find out more about insurance, coverage and eligibility information, visit the Medicare or Medicaid web sites. Here’s a publication about Medicare Hospice Benefits.
