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- Paying for hospice care
Paying for hospice care
For most families, hospice comes with little or no out-of-pocket cost. We check your coverage before care begins, so there are no surprises.
Ways to pay for hospice
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Medicare
Covers hospice care, plus medications, equipment, and supplies for the hospice diagnosis.
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Medicaid
Georgia Medicaid covers hospice for members who qualify.
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Private insurance
We accept plans we're in network with and will check yours.
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Private pay
Private pay options are available. Call us to talk them through.
We check your coverage before care begins, so you know what to expect.
What the Medicare hospice benefit covers
Hospice is covered under Medicare Part A for people who qualify. Coverage includes care related to the hospice diagnosis.
- Visits from the hospice care team
- Medications for pain and symptom relief related to the hospice diagnosis
- Medical equipment such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, and oxygen
- Medical supplies such as dressings and incontinence products
- Social work, spiritual care, and grief support for the family
What it doesn't cover
- Treatment meant to cure the terminal illness
- Prescription drugs for the terminal illness that aren't for comfort or symptom relief
- Room and board in a nursing home or assisted living community
- Care from another provider for the hospice diagnosis that the hospice team didn't arrange (your loved one's own doctor is the exception)
Medicare allows a copay of up to $5 per prescription for comfort medications. Ask us what applies to your loved one.
How long Medicare covers hospice
There's no lifetime limit. Hospice is covered in benefit periods, and at the start of each new period a hospice doctor confirms your loved one still qualifies.
| Benefit period | Length |
|---|---|
| First period | 90 days |
| Second period | 90 days |
| Each period after that | 60 days, with no limit on the number of periods |
Other coverage questions
Medicare Advantage plans
If your loved one has a Medicare Advantage plan, hospice is still covered by Original Medicare. The plan can still cover care unrelated to the hospice diagnosis.
Georgia Medicaid
Medicaid covers hospice for members who qualify. If your loved one has both Medicare and Medicaid, we'll explain how they work together.
Private insurance and private pay
Many private plans include a hospice benefit. We'll check yours, and we can talk through private pay options if needed.
Questions about cost?
Call us and we'll check your loved one's coverage before care begins.