Yes, Medicare covers hospice care delivered in your home

Medicare Part A covers hospice care when you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and your doctor believes you have six months or less to live. The coverage includes nursing visits, doctor services, medications related to your terminal condition, medical equipment, counseling, and aide services — all delivered in your home. You pay nothing for hospice services themselves, though you may have small costs for certain medications and equipment that fall outside the hospice benefit.

The key requirement is that you must choose hospice care instead of curative treatment. Once you enroll, Medicare stops paying for hospital stays, doctor visits, or tests meant to treat your terminal illness. You can still see your regular doctor for unrelated conditions, and you can leave hospice at any time if you change your mind or want to pursue treatment again.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicare Part A covers the full cost of hospice services delivered at home, with no copayments or deductibles for hospice-related care.
  • Your doctor must certify that you have a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less, though you can continue receiving care beyond that timeframe if the condition persists.
  • Hospice care includes nursing, doctors, medications for your terminal condition, medical equipment, counseling, and aide services — but not curative treatment.
  • You must choose a Medicare-certified hospice provider, and you can switch providers or leave hospice entirely if your situation changes.

What Medicare hospice coverage includes

Medicare Part A pays for a broad range of services under hospice. These include visits from registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, doctor services from your hospice physician or your own doctor, medications prescribed for symptom management and comfort, medical equipment like oxygen, wheelchairs, and hospital beds, and home health aide services for personal care and hygiene.

The benefit also covers counseling — both grief counseling for you and your family and spiritual counseling if you want it. Dietary counseling and short-term inpatient care for pain management or symptom control are included. If you need respite care (a short hospital or nursing facility stay to give your family a break), Medicare covers up to five consecutive days at a time.

Medications are covered when they treat symptoms of your terminal illness or manage pain. If you need a medication for an unrelated condition — blood pressure medicine, for example — that may still be covered under your regular Medicare Part B or Part D, depending on the drug.

How to enroll in Medicare hospice

Your doctor must first refer you to hospice and document that you have a terminal illness with a six-month prognosis. This does not mean you will definitely die within six months — it means your doctor believes that is the likely timeframe. Many people live longer, and Medicare continues coverage as long as your doctor recertifies the diagnosis every 60 days.

Once your doctor makes the referral, you choose a Medicare-certified hospice provider. You can ask your doctor for recommendations, search the Medicare Hospice Compare tool on Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE to find providers in your area. When you contact a hospice provider, they will explain the services they offer and answer questions about how they work with your family.

You then sign an election form stating that you choose hospice care instead of curative treatment. This form goes to both Medicare and your hospice provider. Your coverage begins the day the hospice provider receives your signed election form.

What happens to your other Medicare coverage

When you enroll in hospice, your Medicare Part A coverage for hospital stays and skilled nursing facility care ends. Your Part B coverage for doctor visits and outpatient services also stops for conditions related to your terminal illness. This is because hospice is designed to be your primary source of care for that condition.

However, you keep your Medicare Part B coverage for unrelated medical problems. If you have diabetes, heart disease, or any other condition separate from your terminal diagnosis, you can still see your regular doctor and Medicare will pay for those visits and services. You also keep your Part D prescription drug coverage for medications unrelated to your hospice care.

If you have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, contact them when you enroll in hospice to understand how your coverage changes. Some plans may pause certain benefits while you are in hospice.

Costs you may still owe

Hospice services themselves have no copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles under Medicare Part A. However, you may have small out-of-pocket costs in specific situations. If you need a medication that is not related to your terminal illness, your Part D plan may require a copayment. If you use medical equipment that is not standard hospice equipment, you might owe a portion of the cost.

Some hospice providers offer services beyond what Medicare requires — such as pet therapy, art therapy, or additional family counseling — and may ask you to pay for those extras. Before enrolling, ask your hospice provider what services are included in Medicare coverage and what, if anything, they charge separately.

Switching hospice providers or leaving hospice

You can change to a different Medicare-certified hospice provider at any time. Contact your current provider to let them know you are leaving, then contact the new provider and sign a new election form. Your coverage with the new provider begins when they receive your signed form.

You can also leave hospice entirely if you decide you want to pursue curative treatment or if your condition improves. When you leave, notify your hospice provider and Medicare. Your regular Medicare coverage for hospital and doctor visits resumes, though there may be a brief gap while the paperwork processes. If you leave hospice and then want to return later, you can re-enroll with the same or a different provider.

Finding and comparing hospice providers

Medicare.gov offers a Hospice Compare tool where you can search for certified providers by location and see information about their services, staffing, and patient ratings. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE to request a list of providers in your area or to ask questions about specific agencies.

When comparing providers, ask about their experience with your specific condition, whether they have staff available 24/7, what languages they speak, and how they involve family members in care planning. Some providers specialize in certain conditions or populations, and finding a good fit can make a real difference in your experience.

Your doctor, social worker, or hospital discharge planner can also recommend providers they have worked with. Personal recommendations from people who have used a provider are often the most helpful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stay on hospice longer than six months?

Yes. The six-month prognosis is a starting point, not a important date. Your doctor recertifies your diagnosis every 60 days, and if your condition continues to meet the hospice criteria, Medicare continues to pay. Some people receive hospice care for a year or longer.

What if my family disagrees about choosing hospice?

The decision to enroll in hospice is yours to make. Your doctor can help explain what hospice offers and answer your family's questions. Many hospice providers offer family meetings to discuss concerns and help everyone understand the goals of care.

Does hospice mean I have to stop seeing my regular doctor?

Your regular doctor can continue to be involved in your care and can work alongside your hospice team. However, your hospice provider becomes the main coordinator of your medical care for your terminal illness. Unrelated medical conditions are still managed through your regular Medicare coverage.

Can I use hospice in a nursing home or assisted living facility instead of at home?

Yes. Medicare hospice coverage works in any setting — your home, a nursing facility, assisted living, or a hospice facility. The services and coverage are the same regardless of location.

What happens to my hospice care if I move to a different state?

You can transfer your hospice care to a Medicare-certified provider in your new state. Contact your current provider to arrange the transfer, and they can help connect you with a provider in your new location. Your Medicare coverage continues without interruption.