Hospice Care at Home

Yes. Routine home care is the most common level of Medicare hospice and is fully covered with no cost-sharing for services. The team comes to your home to provide nursing, personal care, medications, equipment, and emotional support, per Medicare.gov.

Not usually. Routine home hospice involves scheduled visits, not around-the-clock staffing. Family or hired caregivers handle day-to-day care, with a hospice nurse available by phone 24/7. During a crisis, the team can provide continuous home care for intensive support.

Medicare's hospice benefit covers medical equipment needed for comfort and care at home, including hospital beds, wheelchairs, oxygen, walkers, and bedside commodes. The hospice arranges delivery and setup, and these items are provided at no cost to you.

Yes. Home hospice can be delivered in assisted living, a nursing home, or a private residence, Medicare covers the hospice services wherever you live. Note that room and board at the facility is not covered by the hospice benefit.

Your hospice team can escalate to continuous home care for crisis support or move you to general inpatient care until symptoms are controlled, then return you home. A nurse is on call 24/7. Medicare covers these transitions. Call 1-800-MEDIGAP with coverage questions.