Costs Associated with Hospice Care
Medical expenses should not and will not prevent you from receiving comfort care at the end of life. Hospice care is typically covered in full by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance providers. Family members and loved ones typically provide assistance with the care in order to reduce the overall cost of caregiving, however, hospice services are typically available at no cost. We encourage you to reach out as early as possible so that patients and their loved ones may receive the full benefits available through the comprehensive services we provide.
If you have questions about hospice care, or your individual situation, please contact us.
What’s Covered:
St. Joseph Hospice bills directly to Medicare, Medicaid and/or private insurance for hospice care. These benefits usually cover 100 percent of hospice care, including medical equipment, supplies and medications for the terminal diagnosis and related conditions.
Hospice Care is Covered Under Medicare
- Physician services
- Nursing care
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Medications for symptom management and pain relief of the terminal illness and related conditions (must be pre-approved by hospice)
- Short-term inpatient care for pain and symptom control
- Hospice Aide
- Spiritual counseling
- Bereavement counseling
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy
- Medical social services
- Dietary counseling
- Volunteer services
- Short-term respite care
- Treatment for the terminal illness which is not for palliative symptom management and is not within the hospice plan of care
- Care provided by another hospice that was not arranged by the patient’s hospice
- Ambulance transportation not included in the plan of care or pre-approved by the hospice agency.
- Medications that are not related to the terminal illness
- Visits to the emergency department without the prior approval or arrangements by hospice
- Inpatient care at non-contracted facilities
- Sitter services/hired caregivers
- Admission to the hospital without the prior approval or arrangements by hospice
- Lab studies, medical testing and/or any treatments not indicated
If you have questions about hospice care, or your individual situation, please contact us Phone: 207-907-1810 or 1-800-646-5000