When you’re nearing the end of your life, your greatest wish may be to put aside your other worries to give your family as much time and love as you can. Sadly, the many end-of-life decisions you’re facing may be taking their toll on your emotional—and financial—wellbeing.
Free yourself of one major concern: Wonderful, truly memorable hospice care will probably cost you nothing. Even better, it may cover the costs of things related to your diagnosis that you are currently paying out-of-pocket – medications, hospital bed, and other medical equipment.
YOUR OPTIONS: Covering Hospice Costs
- Medicare – Covers 100% of your hospice care for everything related to your hospice diagnosis. If by some chance a medication you need isn’t covered by the Medicare hospice benefit, your hospice provider can check with your Medicare drug plan to see if it’s covered under Part D. You may need to pay a small copayment.
- Medicaid – In most states, with Medicaid, you should have no out-of-pocket costs for hospice care.
- Veteran’s Administration – If you’re a veteran enrolled in VA benefits, your hospice expenses are entirely covered.
- Private Insurance – Most private insurance plans cover the full cost of hospice care. That said, coverage can vary from company to company, so be sure to check on the specifics of your plan.
- Hospice Organizations – Even if you don’t have insurance, you can probably receive hospice care without having to pay for it yourself. Many hospice organizations will accept you into their program at no cost—or at a greatly reduced cost—depending on your ability to pay.
To receive hospice care (and to have your costs covered by the above resources), you need to be eligible for hospice. In other words:
- A doctor has certified that it’s possible you may have only 6 months to live.
- You have decided not to try to pursue curative treatments for your life-limiting illness.
Our words of advice: Don’t wait.
- If you’re eligible, consider beginning hospice care early on. The most consistent regret of hospice clients and their families is that they didn’t begin sooner.
- Most people think hospice is the care you get when you only have weeks or days left to live. That’s simply not true anymore. Hospice focuses on helping you live a full, meaningful life during the time you have left.
Lifespark Hospice Is Here to Help
You may not realize the many, many ways that Lifespark Hospice care can relieve stress on your family. Your hospice team’s goal is to free your mind so you can spend peaceful, memorable time together.
It may be hard to believe right now, but a good hospice provider can make this difficult time in your life a deeply meaningful experience for you and the people who love you. Not sure which hospice provider to choose? Download our free guide below to help you find the right match your particular wishes and priorities.
If you have questions about insurance coverage for hospice, please reach out to our team 24/7 for guidance or to schedule a free consultation.
