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Does Medicare Cover Hospice Care?
Hospice is covered under Part A for beneficiaries who meet specific eligibility criteria.
Talk to a Licensed Agent: (302) 407-0876Who Qualifies
Medicare covers hospice care under Part A if your doctor certifies you have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less, and you choose to receive comfort-focused care instead of treatment aimed at curing the illness. You can still receive treatment for unrelated health conditions while on hospice.
The hospice provider must be Medicare-certified. Most hospice services come with no copay, though small copays can apply to pain-relief prescription drugs and short respite stays.
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Call (302) 407-0876What's Included
Hospice typically includes pain and symptom management, 24-hour on-call support, regular in-person visits, medical equipment and related medications, spiritual and emotional support, bereavement counseling for family, and sometimes art or music therapy. Respite care — a short facility stay so a family caregiver can rest — is also included.
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, hospice care itself is covered through Original Medicare rather than your MA plan, while your Medicare Advantage plan continues covering care unrelated to your terminal diagnosis.
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