What Does Hospice Care Cost?

One of the most common misconceptions held about hospice care is that it is expensive. Unfortunately, this myth prevents thousands of terminally ill patients and their families to not receive the care they deserve. The truth is that hospice care is 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid. For those not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, as well as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, also offer the hospice benefit

If you do not have health insurance, nonprofit hospice organizations, such as Unity, offer CommUnity Care, a financial assistance program ensuring everyone, regardless of financial means, has access to quality end-of-life care.

Hospice Services that are Covered Under the Hospice Benefit:

• Development of a personalized plan of care based on ever-changing disease progression, needs, wishes, and lifestyle
• Scheduled and as-needed visits from your hospice care team in your private home, assisted living facility, nursing home, inpatient hospice facility, or hospital room
• Expert pain and symptom management to achieve optimum comfort overseen by a hospice medical doctor and nurse practitioner
• Collaboration of care with your primary and specialty doctors
• Clinical support and education to manage the physical symptoms of your illness by a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse
• Assistance with daily activities of living including bathing, dressing, mouth care, skin care, grooming, toileting, and incontinence care provided by a certified nursing assistant
• Emotional and social support provided by specialty trained social workers
• Spiritual support and guidance based on your personal beliefs provided by specialty trained chaplains
• RN phone support 24 hours per day
• Prescription and over-the-counter medications for symptom management and pain relief, medical equipment, and supplies related to life-limiting illness such as:
• • Medications for pain, anxiety, depression, shortness of breath and other symptoms
  • Commode
  • Nebulizer
  • Hospital bed
  • Walker
  • Wheelchair
  • Oxygen
  • Bandages
  • Catheter
  • Incontinence and skin care products
  • And more…
• Short-term respite care at an inpatient hospice care facility or skilled nursing home for up to five days at a time to provide temporary caregiver relief to avoid or relieve “caregiver burnout”
• Volunteer support including companionship, vigil sitting during life’s final hours, spiritual enrichment, certified pet visits, and more
• Lab and other diagnostic tests necessary to achieve optimum pain and symptom management
• Grief support before and after death offered by licensed grief counselors, social workers, and trained volunteers