Who is Eligible?
The simple answer is that hospice benefit is available to anyone with a life expectancy of six months or less if the life-limiting illness or disease runs its normal course. The patient must choose to elect hospice and the patient's eligibility must be certified by a physician.
Who Pays for Hospice Services?
Most hospice services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances. Medicare and Medicaid are the most common funding sources for individuals who enroll in Hospice care. Medicare is a health insurance program offered by the government for seniors age 65 and older. People under age 65 with certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease are also eligible for Medicare. With Medicare and Medicaid, there are minimal out-of-pocket expenses, even for medications, equipment and other high-cost items that are often needed in the last months of life. Your family's financial burden is often reduced by the financial relief that the Medicare/Medicaid hospice benefit offers. |
