Hospice Eligibility

In order to qualify for hospice care, a person must be diagnosed with a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less. Hospice benefits may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. In most cases, there is no cost to the patient or the family.

Each case is reviewed at the end of each of these periods to help determine continued eligibility. If you qualify for Medicare hospice benefits, these usually include:

• An interdisciplinary team of hospice professionals
• Home medical equipment
• Medication
• Respite care
• Continuous care
• Inpatient care
• Routine home care
• Bereavement support