What is Hospice care?
First, what is Hospice?
Hospice is a type of care that focuses on the quality of life of people who are nearing the end of life. It is a team-based approach that provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and their families.
Hospice care is available to people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and have a prognosis of six months or less to live. It is not a place to die, but rather a way to live the remaining days of your life as fully and comfortably as possible.
Hospice care can be provided in a variety of settings, including the patient’s home, a hospice facility, or a nursing home. The goal of hospice care is to provide comfort and support to the patient and their family during this challenging time.
Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. If you are interested in learning more about hospice care, you should talk to your doctor or a hospice provider in your area.
Medicare and Hospice
Medicare covers hospice care under Part A. This means that you do not have to pay a co-payment or coinsurance for hospice care. You may have to pay a small amount for things like medications that are not covered by Medicare, but these costs are usually extremely low.
To be eligible for Medicare hospice care, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.
- You must have a terminal illness. This means that your doctor has determined that you have a life expectancy of six months or less.
- You must agree to forgo curative treatment for your terminal illness. This means that you will not receive any treatments that are meant to cure your illness, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
If you meet these requirements, you can choose to receive hospice care from a hospice provider that is Medicare-approved. You can choose a hospice provider that is in your area or that offers services that you are interested in, such as bereavement support for your family.
Hospice care can be provided in a variety of settings, including your home, a hospice facility, or a nursing home. You can choose the setting that is most comfortable for you.
Hospice care includes a wide range of services, such as:
- Pain and symptom management
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Respite care for caregivers
- Bereavement support for families
Hospice care can help you live your remaining days as fully and comfortably as possible. It can also help your family cope with the emotional and practical challenges of caring for a loved one who is dying.
For more information contact Ashford Insurance at 817-952-3153.
Photo by Muskan Anand
