Does Medicare pay 100% of hospice costs?

Almost. Medicare Part A covers nearly all hospice services at no cost to you. The only out-of-pocket charges are a small copay for outpatient prescription drugs (up to $5 per prescription related to your terminal diagnosis) and a 5% cost-sharing for inpatient respite care (up to the Part A deductible amount for that year). There is no copay for routine home care, continuous home care, or general inpatient care.

How long can I receive Medicare hospice benefits?

Medicare hospice benefits are not time-limited as long as you remain eligible. You begin with two 90-day benefit periods. After those, you can continue in unlimited 60-day benefit periods if a hospice doctor recertifies that you still have a terminal prognosis of six months or less. You can remain on hospice for years if you remain eligible.

Can I leave hospice and come back?

Yes. You can revoke your hospice election at any time for any reason. Once you revoke, you return to standard Medicare coverage and can receive curative treatment again. You may re-elect hospice at a later date — there is no penalty and no limit on re-elections. If your condition improves and you're discharged from hospice, you can also re-enroll when your condition declines.

Does electing hospice mean giving up?

No. This is one of the most common misconceptions. Electing hospice means shifting the goal from curing the illness to providing comfort and quality of life. Many patients live longer on hospice than projected. Hospice also provides robust support for family caregivers — something regular Medicare does not cover to the same extent.

Can I still see my regular doctor on hospice?

Yes. Your primary care physician can remain involved in your care and can serve as the attending physician on your hospice plan of care. However, your hospice team takes over medical management related to your terminal diagnosis. Services unrelated to your terminal condition can still be covered by regular Medicare (Parts A, B, or D).

What happens to Medicare Part D drug coverage on hospice?

Hospice covers all medications related to your terminal diagnosis — you do not use Part D for those. For medications unrelated to your terminal condition, your Part D plan remains active and you can continue to use it. If a drug is related to your diagnosis, the hospice must provide it (with at most a $5 copay); if unrelated, Part D applies.

Does Medicare Advantage cover hospice differently?

No. Medicare law requires that all Medicare Advantage plans use Original Medicare rules for hospice. Hospice is always covered under Medicare Part A, not your Medicare Advantage plan. Your MA plan may still cover conditions unrelated to your terminal diagnosis, depending on your plan.

Understanding the Medicare Hospice Benefit

Medicare Part A covers nearly all hospice services at little or no cost to you. Here's exactly what's included, how to elect and revoke hospice, and what you'll actually pay.

Medicare Part A Updated April 2026 800–1,100 words

The Medicare Hospice Benefit is funded through Medicare Part A. When you elect hospice, Medicare pays the hospice agency a daily rate to provide all covered services. This "capitated" model means the hospice bears financial responsibility for coordinating your care.

Medicare-covered hospice services include:

Physician services — hospice medical director and your attending physician
Skilled nursing care — RN visits for assessment, wound care, medication management
Home health aide & homemaker services — personal care, bathing, light housekeeping
Medical social worker services — counseling, care coordination, community resources
Spiritual care / chaplain services
Medications related to your terminal diagnosis (with up to $5 copay per Rx)
Medical equipment (DME) — hospital beds, wheelchairs, oxygen, nebulizers (see Hospice Equipment Guide)
Medical supplies — bandages, catheters, briefs
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy (for comfort/function, not cure)
Short-term inpatient care — for symptom management or respite
Continuous home care — during a medical crisis (minimum 8 hrs/day)
Bereavement counseling — for your family, up to 13 months after death
Volunteer support

Important: Medicare covers these services only related to your terminal diagnosis. If you have a condition unrelated to your diagnosis (e.g., a broken arm), those services are still covered by regular Medicare Part A, Part B, or Part D — and are not the hospice's responsibility.

Service Type	Your Cost
Routine home care	$0
Continuous home care (crisis care)	$0
General inpatient care	$0
Inpatient respite care	5% of Medicare-approved amount (up to Part A deductible)
Prescription drugs (symptom relief)	Up to $5 per prescription
Room & board at home	Paid by patient/family (hospice does NOT pay rent/food)

To qualify for the Medicare Hospice Benefit, you must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Enrolled in Medicare Part A

You must be enrolled in Original Medicare (or Medicare Advantage, which uses Part A for hospice).

2. Terminal prognosis of ≤ 6 months

Two physicians (usually your doctor + the hospice medical director) must certify that your illness is likely to be fatal within 6 months if it follows its normal course.

3. Choose comfort over curative care

You agree to elect hospice care and forgo Medicare coverage for curative treatment of the terminal diagnosis. You keep all other Medicare benefits.

4. Sign an election statement

You (or your authorized representative) sign a written election statement with your chosen hospice provider.

Benefit Periods

Hospice is provided in benefit periods — not a fixed "6-month limit." Here's how they work:

Period	Length	Recertification Required?
First benefit period	90 days	At end of period
Second benefit period	90 days	At end of period
Subsequent periods	60 days each	At start of each period

At each recertification, a hospice physician (and often your attending doctor) must confirm you still have a terminal prognosis of 6 months or less. There is no limit on how many benefit periods you can have.

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Understanding the Medicare Hospice Benefit

What Medicare's Hospice Benefit Covers

Eligibility & How to Elect Hospice

Benefit Periods

Revoking & Re-electing Hospice

Re-election Rights

Common Misconceptions About Hospice

Frequently Asked Questions

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