Hospice provides supportive care to people in the final stage of a terminal illness to help them focus on comfort and quality of life rather than a cure. Hospice care focuses on providing the best quality of life possible during the patient’s final days. This may mean that intensive pain management may be necessary. This type of care is typically provided within the patient’s home but can be provided in outside facilities, such as nursing homes and hospitals. The goal is to provide the patient with emotional, social, and spiritual support, as well as tending to their medical needs.
With this in mind, it’s important to know if Medicare will provide coverage for these services.
Hospice Care And Original Medicare
There are specific qualifications you must meet to qualify for hospice care. Your primary doctor and your hospice doctor are required to deem you terminally ill, which means you have a life expectancy of six months or less. Agreeing to hospice care means you agree to palliative care, also known as comfort care, rather than care to treat your illness. You must sign a form stating you accept hospice care rather than other Medicare-approved services to treat your illness.
Hospice care includes the following coverage:
- Pain relief and symptom management/pain management drugs
- Medical, nursing, and social services
- Durable medical equipment
- Aide and homemaker services
- Spiritual and grief support
If you are covered under Original Medicare, which consists of Medicare Part A and Part B, then you owe nothing for hospice care. You will have to pay a copay of $5 for each prescription of every outpatient drug that helps with pain relief and pain management. In the instance that your Medicare plan does not cover your prescription drug, your hospice provider should find out if Medicare Part D will cover it.
How Can Turning 65 Solutions Help?
At Turning 65 Solutions, we understand that having the proper coverage, especially during a time when hospice care is needed, is crucial. That’s why our team of Medicare experts is here to help. Situations like these can very easily come out of the blue and cause financial hardship when it’s least needed, so our main goal is to take that stress off your shoulders by finding you much-needed coverage. We represent all of the best “A” rated insurance companies, allowing us to work for YOU and to make recommendations that are in YOUR best interest.
Understanding the coverage you will receive with your Medicare plan is always important. That’s why at Turning 65 Solutions, we will walk you through your options and make sure you have the coverage you need. To learn more about Medicare and the coverage provided by each part, reach out to us today!