Hospice Payment Options
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Medicare Coverage:
- Medicare covers hospice costs if doctor certifies terminal illness.
- Medicare Part A fully pays for services tied to the terminal illness.
- Medicare Part B covers care unrelated to the terminal condition.
- Medicare covers a team of professionals, medicines, and equipment.
- Medicare covers grief counseling for the family after death.
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Other Payment Sources:
- Medicaid pays if income and assets are low.
- Private insurance covers differently; check with the provider.
- Employers may cover services.
- Religious hospices serve communities without requiring beliefs.
- Veterans get hospice care through the VA.
Hospice Care Eligibility
- Requirements:
- Eligibility requires a doctor to certify a terminal prognosis of six months or less.
- Get evaluated to confirm hospice needs.
- Must establish a care plan with the doctor.
- Medicare pays more for the first 60 days.
- Most patients pay little or nothing.