Who pays for Hospice Care and what is the Medicare Hospice Benefit?
Hospice care is paid for in a variety of ways. Charity Care – Under the Medicare law, no person may be refused hospice care due to the inability to pay. Each hospice has staff who can answer questions about receiving financial assistance. Donations, gifts, grants or other community sources help cover the costs of care for those who can’t pay. Medicare – The cost of hospice care, whether at home or as an inpatient, is covered as a benefit under Medicare Hospital Insurance Part A. The Medicare Hospice Benefit entitles all Medicare beneficiaries to the benefits of hospice care. A doctor must determine that a patient has a limited life expectancy of six months or less if the condition runs its natural course to be eligible for the Hospice Benefit, and the patient will be required to sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of the standard Medicare benefits for a terminal illness. If a patient lives longer than six months, a physician may request continued hospice care and that Medica
