How is Hospice Paid For

Most hospice patients use the Medicare Hospice Benefit to pay for their care. Medicare pays hospices a fee that covers:

• Home visits by doctors, nurses, home health aides, social workers, counselors and chaplains
• Medicines to control pain and symptoms related to the hospice diagnosis (the illness that is the patient's reason for being in hospice)
• Durable medical equipment, such as oxygen, wheelchairs, walkers and hospital beds
• Disposable supplies, such as bandages and sterile pads
• Home visits by the hospice team, ambulance trips and lab tests as needed, 24-hour on-call coverage, and more

Medicare Part A may pay for treatments not related to the hospice diagnosis. Medicare prescription drug plans (Medicare Part D) may pay for medicines not related to the hospice diagnosis.

Read more information about Medicare Hospice Benefits at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

Coverage by Medicaid and most private insurance is similar to the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

Community fundraising through the Montgomery Hospice Foundation makes it possible for Montgomery Hospice to care for anyone needing care, including patients without insurance.

More information: watch the video Paying for Hospice Care