Hospice care is specialized end-of-life care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for people with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less. Medicare covers hospice fully — no deductible, no copay. We track 6,484 hospice providers across the U.S. Hospice can be delivered at home, in a nursing home, or at a dedicated hospice facility.
Key takeaways
- Hospice is for people whose life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its natural course. The benefit continues past 6 months if still eligible.
- Medicare pays 100 percent of hospice: no deductible, no copay (small copay for outpatient drugs). Medicaid and most private insurers cover it too.
- The focus is comfort, not cure. Curative treatment stops when hospice begins.
- Delivered wherever the patient calls home: their house, a family member's house, a nursing home, an assisted living community, or a stand-alone hospice facility.
- Includes nursing, aide services, chaplain, social worker, medical equipment, medications for the terminal condition, and bereavement support for the family.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice is a Medicare benefit and a philosophy of care for people at the end of life. To qualify, two physicians certify that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its natural course. The patient (or their healthcare proxy) signs an election form acknowledging that they are choosing comfort care over curative treatment. Once enrolled, the hospice team provides comprehensive care: an RN case manager visits weekly (or more), hospice aides help with bathing and personal care several times a week, a social worker and chaplain support the emotional and spiritual side, and medications and medical equipment for the terminal illness are provided at no cost. The patient does not have to be bedridden or actively dying to enroll. Many patients live longer than expected on hospice because the symptom management and support improve their quality of life. Bereavement support continues for the family for 13 months after death.
How much does hospice care cost?
Median: $5,200/month · based on 6,484 hospice care providers we track
For Medicare beneficiaries, hospice is fully covered: no deductible, no copay for services. There is a small copay (up to $5) for outpatient prescription drugs for symptom relief, and a 5 percent copay for respite inpatient stays. Everything else — nurse visits, aide services, chaplain, social worker, medications for the terminal condition, medical equipment, supplies — is covered 100 percent by Medicare Part A.
For patients without Medicare, most private insurance plans and Medicaid cover hospice on similar terms. Uninsured patients can often still receive care through hospice charitable funds. Financial concerns should never keep a dying patient off hospice — call any hospice provider and ask about their charity care policy.
The cost hospice does NOT cover is room and board if the patient lives in a nursing home or assisted living. Medicare covers the hospice services delivered in that setting, but not the underlying rent. Medicaid may cover both if the patient qualifies.
Who is hospice care right for?
Hospice Care is usually the right fit when your loved one is:
- Life expectancy of 6 months or less if the illness runs its natural course
- Terminal cancer, advanced heart failure, end-stage COPD, end-stage renal disease
- End-stage dementia (unable to walk, dress, speak more than 6 words)
- ALS, Parkinson's in advanced stages, other progressive neurological diseases
- Any illness where the patient has chosen comfort over cure
- The patient and family want comprehensive support during the final months
Services typically included
- Registered nurse case manager, weekly or more
- Certified nursing aide for bathing and personal care
- Medical social worker for family support and logistics
- Chaplain for spiritual support (nondenominational, family's choice to accept)
- Physician oversight coordinated with the patient's regular doctor
- Medications for symptom relief (pain, nausea, anxiety, shortness of breath)
- Medical equipment: hospital bed, wheelchair, commode, oxygen
- Volunteer visits for companionship and errands
- 24/7 on-call nurse for urgent needs
- Bereavement support for the family for 13 months after death
How to pay for hospice care
Medicare
Medicare Part A covers hospice fully: no deductible, no copay for services. Small copays for outpatient drugs (up to $5) and respite inpatient stays (5 percent). Coverage continues for as long as the patient remains eligible, even past 6 months if recertified.
Medicaid
Every state Medicaid program covers hospice on essentially the same terms as Medicare. If the patient is in a nursing home, Medicaid may also cover the room and board separately from the hospice services.
Private insurance
Most private health insurance plans cover hospice, often with a small copay or coinsurance. Contact your plan for specifics.
VA benefits
The VA covers hospice for eligible veterans, either through contracted community hospices or in VA facilities.
Charity care
Uninsured patients can often receive hospice through the provider's charitable fund. Ask any hospice about their charity care policy. Cost should not be a barrier to end-of-life care.
How to choose a hospice care provider
- Hospice is a benefit, not a place. You can usually stay where you are: home, nursing home, assisted living.
- Ask about the average length of nurse visits and how the on-call nurse system works overnight and on weekends.
- Ask if the hospice is nonprofit or for-profit. Both can be excellent; nonprofits sometimes offer more bereavement and volunteer programs.
- Ask for the hospice's CAHPS Hospice Survey score (patient family experience data from Medicare) at Medicare.gov/care-compare.
- You can change hospice providers if you are unhappy. Do not stay with a hospice that is not meeting your family's needs.
- Enroll earlier than most families do. The average hospice stay is only 2 to 3 weeks; the benefit is designed for 6 months. Earlier enrollment means better symptom control and more support.
Hospice Care vs other care types
Hospice Care vs Palliative Care
Explore Palliative CarePalliative care is symptom management for serious illness at ANY stage — you can be palliative and still pursuing curative treatment. Hospice is palliative care specifically for the end of life, when curative treatment has stopped. Every hospice patient is receiving palliative care; not every palliative patient is on hospice.
Hospice Care vs Home Care
Explore Home CareHome care is non-medical help with daily activities delivered by an aide. Hospice includes an aide, plus nurses, doctors, chaplains, and medications — a much more comprehensive team. Many hospice patients also hire private home care for additional hours of companionship or personal care.
Hospice Care vs Nursing Homes
Explore Nursing HomesHospice can be delivered inside a nursing home. Medicare covers the hospice services; the nursing home charges for room and board separately. This is a common arrangement for patients whose care needs exceed what family can handle at home.
Frequently asked questions
What is hospice care?
Hospice is specialized end-of-life care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for people with a terminal illness and life expectancy of 6 months or less. It includes nurses, aides, medications, equipment, and family support, fully covered by Medicare.
Does Medicare pay for hospice?
Yes. Medicare Part A covers hospice fully: no deductible, no copay for services. Small copays for outpatient drugs (up to $5) and respite inpatient stays (5 percent).
How long can someone stay on hospice?
As long as they remain eligible. Hospice is initially certified for 90 days, then another 90 days, then unlimited 60-day recertifications. Patients who live longer than 6 months can and do continue on hospice.
Where is hospice delivered?
Wherever the patient calls home: their house, a family member's house, a nursing home, an assisted living community, or a stand-alone hospice inpatient facility for short-term acute symptom management.
Can we still see our regular doctor on hospice?
Yes. The hospice medical director coordinates with the patient's regular physicians. Curative treatment for the terminal illness stops, but treatment for unrelated conditions can continue.
What if my loved one gets better on hospice?
Some patients do improve with hospice care. You can discharge from hospice at any time and return later if the illness progresses again. The hospice benefit is designed to be flexible.
Does the family get any support?
Yes. Hospice includes a social worker for logistics and emotional support, a chaplain for spiritual care (if wanted), and 13 months of bereavement support for the family after death.