Medicare hospice is a defined benefit. A person’s eligibility, plan of care and potential costs must be discussed with qualified clinicians, the hospice and Medicare.
For the Medicare hospice benefit, a person generally has Medicare Part A, is certified as terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less if the illness follows its normal course, and elects hospice for the terminal illness and related conditions. A referral or website visit does not itself establish eligibility or elect hospice.
The plan of care matters
The hospice interdisciplinary group develops an individualized plan of care with the patient or representative, primary caregiver and attending physician when applicable. Services and coverage follow that person’s plan and current Medicare rules.
Election choices remain with the patient
A patient or representative may revoke a Medicare hospice election with a signed statement, and Medicare permits one change of designated hospice in each benefit period. These are formal Medicare processes, not website selections.
Use official sources for current details
Benefits, coverage, costs and provider rules can change. Medicare.gov is the appropriate source for current benefit information and questions about a particular coverage situation.
