Last updated: April 2026
Home Health vs. Hospice: Understanding the Difference
Bottom line: Home health is about recovery or maintaining function. Hospice is about comfort and dignity for people with a terminal prognosis. Both are Medicare benefits — but they have different goals, eligibility rules, and coverage structures.
The Core Difference
Eligibility Differences
Both benefits require you to have Medicare coverage, but the specific eligibility criteria diverge significantly:
Services Covered Under Each
The types of services provided under each benefit reflect their different goals:
- •Skilled nursing (wound care, IV therapy, medication management)
- •Physical therapy (mobility, strength, fall prevention)
- •Occupational therapy (ADL independence)
- •Speech-language pathology
- •Home health aide (personal care, when receiving skilled services)
- •Medical social work
- •DME ordered as part of care plan
- •Physician and nursing services
- •Pain and symptom management (including medications)
- •Hospice aide and homemaker services
- •Physical, occupational, and speech therapy (as needed for comfort)
- •Social work and counseling services
- •Chaplaincy and spiritual care
- •Short-term inpatient care (pain/symptom crisis)
- •Respite care (up to 5 consecutive days)
- •Bereavement support for family (up to 1 year after death)
Medicare Coverage Differences
Both benefits are largely free under Medicare, but there are important structural differences in how they're covered:
Can You Switch Between Them?
Yes — and this matters more than most people realize.
Home health to hospice: If your condition worsens and your doctor certifies that you have a terminal prognosis of 6 months or less, you can elect the Medicare Hospice Benefit. At that point, Medicare will stop paying for home health services aimed at treating the terminal condition, and hospice takes over as the primary benefit.
Hospice to home health: You can revoke the hospice benefit at any time. If you want to pursue curative treatment again, or if you no longer meet the 6-month prognosis, your care transitions back to standard Medicare. You can re-elect hospice later if needed.
When to Consider Each Option
- ✓Recovering from surgery, injury, or serious illness
- ✓Just discharged from hospital or rehab facility
- ✓Managing a chronic condition that requires skilled monitoring
- ✓Need therapy to regain strength or function
- ✓Homebound and need wound care or IV medications
- ✓Terminal illness with prognosis of 6 months or less
- ✓Curative treatments are no longer effective or desired
- ✓Priority has shifted to comfort and quality of life
- ✓Frequent hospitalizations no longer improving outcomes
- ✓Family needs support and respite care
Find Home Health Agencies Near You
Compare Medicare-certified home health agencies in your area. View CMS star ratings, services offered, and contact information — all free.
Find Home Health Agencies Near You →Continue Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person receive both home health and hospice at the same time?
Generally, no — not for overlapping conditions. If you elect the Medicare Hospice Benefit, Medicare will no longer pay for home health services aimed at treating or curing the terminal illness. However, you can still receive Medicare-covered home health for a condition that is completely unrelated to your terminal diagnosis. For example, if you are on hospice for cancer but need home health physical therapy for a broken arm, that PT may still be covered.
Can a patient switch from hospice back to home health care?
Yes. You can revoke the hospice benefit at any time and return to standard Medicare coverage, including home health, if you meet eligibility requirements. Similarly, if you improve significantly on hospice, your doctor may determine you no longer meet the prognosis criteria and you would transition back to regular Medicare coverage. Switching in either direction requires physician documentation.
Does hospice mean giving up on life or stopping all treatment?
No. Hospice is a philosophy of care, not a decision to stop living. Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life rather than curative treatment for the terminal illness. You can still receive treatment for other conditions, and hospice teams actively work to manage symptoms and provide emotional and spiritual support. Many patients and families report that hospice actually improves quality of life.
Is there a cost for hospice care under Medicare?
Medicare covers most hospice services with little to no out-of-pocket cost. You may pay up to $5 for each prescription for outpatient drugs for symptom management and pain relief. For inpatient respite care, you pay 5% of the Medicare-approved amount per day. There is no deductible, no copay for the hospice benefit itself, and no limit to how long hospice coverage lasts as long as you continue to meet eligibility criteria.
How do I know if my family member is ready for hospice?
Transitioning to hospice is a deeply personal decision. Common indicators include: the person has a terminal illness with a prognosis of 6 months or less if the disease follows its expected course; curative treatments are no longer working or the person has chosen not to pursue them; the focus has shifted from extending life to maximizing quality of life; frequent hospitalizations are no longer improving outcomes; or the person has expressed a desire to be kept comfortable at home. A palliative care team or the primary physician can help evaluate readiness and guide the conversation.