Coverage

Medicare defines a set of hospice core services, which means that hospices are required to provide these set of services to each person they serve, regardless of the persons insurance.

Medicare covers these hospice services and pays nearly all of their costs:
 

• Doctor services
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment (like wheelchairs or walkers)
• Medical supplies (like bandages and catheters)
• Drugs for symptom control and pain relief
• Short-term care in the hospital, including respite and inpatient for pain and symptom management
• Home health aide and homemaker services
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Social work services
• Dietary counseling
• Grief support to help you and your family

You will only have to pay part of the cost for outpatient drugs and inpatient respite care.