• The patient’s prognosis is limited to six months or less if the condition follows its normal course
• The patient is seeking care, which is designed to provide comfort and symptom control

Hospice care is available through Medicare, Medicaid, and many private insurance providers. Many commercial insurance plans offer the hospice benefit which may or may not have any out-of-pocket costs. Medicare and Medicaid hospice benefits provide 100% coverage for the end-of -life diagnosis.  Services are as follows: 

• Physician consultations
• Nurse visits
• Emotional and spiritual support from social workers and chaplains
• Personal care assistance and homemaking services by hospice aides
• Medications and medical equipment related to the terminal diagnosis
• Routine home care in the comfort of the patient's own home or in an extended care facility
• Short-term general inpatient care for crises symptom management as needed
• Short-term continuous care to manage a patient's medical crisis in the home setting
• Respite care to support the caregivers
• Bereavement program for up to 12 months following the patient's death
• Volunteer support as appropriate