Medicare and Hospice: What's Covered

Cost is one of the most common concerns families have about hospice, and the reassuring answer is that coverage is generally quite comprehensive.

Does Medicare cover all hospice costs?

Medicare Part A generally covers, for those who qualify:

• The hospice care team - nurse, aide, social worker, chaplain
• Medications related to the terminal illness
• Medical equipment and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis
• Short-term inpatient care for symptom management, when needed
• Grief support for the family, often continuing for a year or more after the death

This is generally covered with little to no out-of-pocket cost.

What might not be covered?

Care unrelated to the hospice diagnosis may still be billed separately through regular Medicare or other insurance - hospice coverage is specifically tied to the terminal illness and related needs, not a replacement for all other medical care.

For what this means for someone in memory care or a nursing home, see hospice for dementia at home vs. in memory care.

Do I need a Medicare Advantage plan for hospice coverage?

No - hospice is generally covered through Original Medicare Part A even for patients enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, since hospice is carved out as a distinct federal benefit rather than run through the Advantage plan itself. It’s still worth confirming specific details with your plan.

Can hospice care continue past six months?

Yes - if a patient lives longer than the initial six-month prognosis, hospice care can continue. The patient’s doctor and the hospice medical director simply need to recertify continued eligibility at set intervals, rather than coverage automatically ending at six months.

This comes up often with dementia, where the course is hard to predict; see when someone with dementia is eligible for hospice.

What if someone doesn’t have Medicare?

Medicaid and most private insurance plans also typically cover hospice care, often with a similar structure to Medicare’s benefit. Confirming specifics directly with the hospice provider and the specific insurance plan is the most reliable way to understand coverage for a particular situation.

Doulas are not covered by Medicare; see how to find and choose an end-of-life doula.

Coverage details can change and vary by plan — confirm current specifics directly with Medicare, Medicaid, or your insurance provider.