Hospice Care: What It Is, Eligibility, Costs & What to Expect

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What Is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is a specialized type of compassionate, comfort-focused care for individuals who are nearing the end of life — typically when curative treatment is no longer the goal. Rather than trying to cure an illness, hospice shifts the focus entirely to quality of life: managing pain, easing symptoms, and providing emotional and spiritual support to both the patient and their loved ones.

Hospice is not giving up. It is a deliberate, dignified choice to prioritize comfort and presence over aggressive medical intervention. Many families who choose hospice later report that it gave them precious, peaceful time together that they wouldn't have had otherwise.

Hospice care can be provided at home, in a dedicated hospice facility, in a nursing home, or in a hospital setting. A team of professionals — including doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers — work together to support the patient and family throughout the process.

Hospice Eligibility

Medical Eligibility
Two physicians (typically the patient's attending physician and the hospice medical director) must certify that the patient has a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease runs its normal course. Common diagnoses include cancer, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, kidney failure, liver disease, ALS, and HIV/AIDS.

Care Goal Requirement
The patient (or their legal representative) must agree to shift the goal of care from curative treatment to comfort-focused care. This does not mean all medical care stops — it means the focus changes.

Enrollment
The patient must formally elect hospice benefits, which involves signing an election statement and choosing a Medicare-certified hospice provider.

Important: If a patient's condition improves or they change their mind, they can disenroll from hospice at any time. Hospice is also not necessarily permanent — patients can be re-evaluated and may re-enroll if their condition declines again.

Hospice Costs & Coverage

Medicare (Most Common Coverage)
Medicare covers hospice care under the Medicare Hospice Benefit (Part A). When a patient elects hospice, Medicare covers virtually all hospice-related services at little or no out-of-pocket cost to the patient, including physician and nursing services, medications related to the terminal diagnosis, medical equipment, aide and homemaker services, social work and counseling, chaplain support, and bereavement services.

Medicare hospice care is organized into benefit periods: two 90-day periods followed by unlimited 60-day periods. At the start of each period, a hospice physician re-certifies that the patient still qualifies.

Medicaid
Most state Medicaid programs cover hospice care with benefits similar to Medicare. Eligibility and covered services vary by state.

Private Insurance
Most private health insurance plans cover hospice care, though benefit structures vary. Families should contact their insurer directly to confirm coverage details.

Out-of-Pocket Costs
Under Medicare, patients may pay a small copay (up to $5) for outpatient prescription drugs and 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient respite care. Most families find hospice to be largely free at the point of service under Medicare.

What to Expect from Hospice Care

The Intake Process
After a physician makes a referral or a family contacts a hospice provider directly, an intake nurse visits the patient to conduct a comprehensive assessment. This typically happens within 24–48 hours.

The Hospice Team
Every patient receives a dedicated interdisciplinary care team, typically including a hospice physician, a registered nurse (RN), a certified nursing aide (CNA), a social worker, a chaplain, and trained volunteers.

Day-to-Day Care
Nurse visit frequency depends on the patient's condition — some patients receive daily visits, others weekly. A 24/7 on-call nurse is available for sudden symptom changes. Medications, supplies, and equipment are delivered to the home.

Levels of Hospice Care
Routine Home Care, Continuous Home Care, Inpatient Respite Care, and General Inpatient Care provide different levels of support based on need.

For the Family
Hospice treats the family as part of the care unit. Bereavement counselors support families before and after the patient's passing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Not sure if your loved one is ready for hospice? Learn about Palliative Care, which provides comfort support at any stage of illness.
• Need help at home but not ready for hospice? Explore Home Care options.

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