Hospice Care and Medicare: What You Need to Know
If you or someone you love needs hospice care, it’s important to know how your insurance might help. For example, Medicare can help many people with hospice pay for their treatment and get the support that they need to stay healthy. Please read through the following information to learn more about how hospice and Medicare work together to help people who need it.
What Is Hospice?
Hospice is a type of care that helps take care of people who need home-based care at their life’s end. It provides hands-on support that keeps people comfortable and as pain-free as possible while they wait for the end. It’s a very common approach that works with many types of insurance policies.
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, about 1.72 million Medicare beneficiaries received hospice care in 2020. Thankfully, this helped these individuals get the care they needed in a difficult time. Understanding how Medicare covers this treatment may make this process easier for you.
How Does Medicare Help?
Medicare can help pay for your care using Part A coverage if you meet all requirements. These include being terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less, receiving palliative care, signing a statement choosing this care, and earning hospice coverage. It’s best to talk with your agent before applying.
If you do qualify for coverage under Medicare, you’ll pay nothing for your hospice. The only costs you’ll cover are copayments up to $5 for prescription drugs and pain management. In some cases, you may cover 5% of your inpatient respite care but only up to your deductible costs.
Note that Medicare may not pay for your room and board if you live in a facility like a nursing home. That said, your physician and insurance team will create a protection plan to help you. These include doctor and nurse services, as well as pain drugs, homemaker services, and other support.
As a result, if you or someone you love needs hospice care, it’s critical to talk with your Medicare agent to learn more. This experience is challenging and emotionally difficult, and you deserve a team that can help you through it with care and dignity. Please contact us at Savior Hospice & Palliative Care today if you’re looking for someone you can trust to handle this process and ensure that your insurance supports you every step of the way.
Posted: 1/27/24