Eligibility & Payment

Hospice nurse with elderly man in wheelchair outdoors

In order to qualify for hospice care, a person must have been diagnosed with a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less. Hospice insurance benefits, which may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, will cover hospice care in stages, which include:

  • An initial 90-day period
  • A subsequent 90-day period
  • Indefinite subsequent 60-day periods

Each case is reviewed at the end of each of these periods to help determine continued eligibility. Most of our patients qualify for Medicare hospice benefits, which include:

  • Care from a physician as it relates to the terminal illness
  • Regular home visits by a hospice nurse
  • Chaplain services for both the patient and their family
  • Home care services, including assistance with bathing and dressing
  • Social work and counseling services
  • Needed medical equipment and supplies
  • Medication
  • Physical, occupational and speech therapy
  • Dietary counseling
  • Short-term hospital care as it relates to the terminal illness
  • Respite care for the family