Medicare hospice care benefit

Hospice care is a program that provides care and support for the terminally ill focusing on comfort, not on curing an illness. Here are some important facts about hospice care:

• Provided by a specially trained team to care for all of the person’s needs

• Provides support to family members caring for a terminally ill person

• Generally given in the home• May include drugs, physical care, counseling, equipment, and supplies for terminal and related condition(s)

• Doesn’t shorten or prolong life You can get Medicare hospice benefits when you meet all of the following conditions:

• You are eligible for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance).

• Your doctor and the hospice medical director certify that you are terminally ill and have 6 months or less to live if your illness runs its normal course.

• You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered benefits to treat your terminal illness.

• You get care from a Medicare-approved hospice program.Hospice care is given in 90-day or 60-day periods of care. You can get hospice care for up to two 90-day periods followed by an unlimited number of 60-day periods as long as you continue to meet the conditions above.