As if January, 2013, Medicare will cover short term inpatient care (for pain and symptom management) and short term respite care (but a small copayment may need to be made). Respite care is to give the caregiver a rest, and is allowed up to 5 days at a time on an occasional basis.
In order to qualify for Hospice Benefits as a whole, the patient must be covered by Medicare Part A, been certified terminally ill by the doctor and hospice medical director (6 months or less to live), sign a form saying that they are choosing Hospice over other covered benefits to treat their terminal illness, and get care from a Medicare-approved hospice program
You can get Medicare hospice benefits under Part A when you meet all of these
conditions:
You’re eligible for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance).
Your doctor and the hospice medical director certify that you’re terminally ill and have 6 months or less to live if your illness runs its normal course.
You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered benefits to treat your terminal illness. (Medicare will still pay for covered benefits for any health problems that aren’t related to your terminal illness.)
You get care from a Medicare-approved hospice program.
Hospice care is intended for people with 6 months or less to live if the disease runs its normal course. If you live longer than 6 months, you can still get hospice care, as long as the hospice medical director or other hospice doctor re-certifies that you’re terminally ill.
Most hospice patients get hospice care in the comfort of their home and with their families. Depending on your condition, you may get hospice care in a Medicare-approved hospice facility, hospital, nursing home, or other long-term care facility. Coverage would include "room and board" in this instance.
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In order to qualify for Hospice Benefits as a whole, the patient must be covered by Medicare Part A, been certified terminally ill by the doctor and hospice medical director (6 months or less to live), sign a form saying that they are choosing Hospice over other covered benefits to treat their terminal illness, and get care from a Medicare-approved hospice program
conditions:
You’re eligible for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance).
Your doctor and the hospice medical director certify that you’re terminally ill and have 6 months or less to live if your illness runs its normal course.
You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered benefits to treat your terminal illness. (Medicare will still pay for covered benefits for any health problems that aren’t related to your terminal illness.)
You get care from a Medicare-approved hospice program.
Hospice care is intended for people with 6 months or less to live if the disease runs its normal course. If you live longer than 6 months, you can still get hospice care, as long as the hospice medical director or other hospice doctor re-certifies that you’re terminally ill.
Most hospice patients get hospice care in the comfort of their home and with their families. Depending on your condition, you may get hospice care in a Medicare-approved hospice facility, hospital, nursing home, or other long-term care facility. Coverage would include "room and board" in this instance.