Hospice Medicare benefits - who is eligible

Who is eligible for hospice benefits under Medicare?

Hospice benefits are available to Medicare beneficiaries
who:
• Are certified by their doctor and the hospice medical director as terminally ill and have a life expectancy of six months or less;
• Sign a statement choosing hospice care using the Medicare Hospice Benefit, rather than curative treatment and standard Medicare covered benefits for their terminal illness; and
• Enroll in a Medicare-approved hospice program.

It is important to note that Medicare will continue to pay for covered benefits for any health problems that are not related to the terminal illness.