If your loved one is terminally ill, hospice care may be the only reasonable option left for dealing with their illness. While it may be a difficult choice to commit to hospice care, it is sometimes necessary. Yet, not everything is covered by Medicare.
To learn what is and is not covered, keep reading.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is administered to people who are terminally ill. These programs typically provide treatments that increase comfort as someone approaches death. Hospice care is normally performed in the home with the support of specialized staff and family members. Though, there are hospice facilities that allow people to receive the end-of-life care they need in a different location.
What Hospice Services are Covered by Medicare?
You can learn what hospice services can be offered by speaking with a doctor. Though, not all of the services will be covered by Medicare. Here is a comprehensive list of every service that is covered by Medicare Part A:
- Doctor services
- Nursing care
- Medical equipment (like wheelchairs or walkers)
- Medical supplies (like bandages and catheters)
- Prescription drugs
- Hospice aide and homemaker services
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Speech-language pathology services
- Social worker services
- Dietary counseling
- Grief and loss counseling for you and your family
- Short-term inpatient care (for pain and symptom management)
- Short-term respite care
- Any other Medicare-covered services needed to manage your terminal illness and related conditions, as recommended by your hospice team
What Are Some Hospice Services Not Covered by Medicare?
As stated previously, Medicare does not cover all forms of hospice care. Some services that are not covered include:
- Treatment intended to provide a cure to your terminal illness
- Prescription medications that are not related to your terminal illness or related health conditions
- Care that was not set up by the hospice team
- Room and board
- Care administered at an outpatient location, like an emergency room
If you try to get any of these services, you may end up paying out-of-pocket.
Learn More About Medicare Covering Hospice Care
Do you or a loved one need hospice care? To find out more about the process of getting this covered through Medicare, reach out to a Medicare specialist, such as the fine people at Magellan Healthcare. You can get started by calling 866-779-3553.
