How to Choose a Hospice Provider

Confirm Medicare certification, then compare providers on Medicare's Care Compare for quality and family-satisfaction ratings. Ask about 24/7 nurse availability, staffing, care levels offered, and experience with your illness. Referrals from your doctor and your community also help identify trusted hospices.

Yes. You have the right to choose any Medicare-certified hospice provider, regardless of your doctor's affiliations. You can also switch hospices once during each benefit period if you're unhappy with your care, without losing your Medicare hospice benefit.

Both can deliver excellent care, but they differ in structure. Nonprofit hospices often have deep community roots and may offer more charity care, while for-profit hospices may have more resources. Focus on quality ratings, staffing, and responsiveness rather than tax status alone.

Use Medicare's Care Compare tool at Medicare.gov, which publishes hospice quality measures and family-experience survey scores. These ratings reflect how well a hospice manages pain, communicates, and supports families, helping you make an informed choice.

Yes. Medicare allows you to change hospice providers once during each benefit period without penalty or losing coverage. If your current hospice isn't meeting your needs, you can transfer to another Medicare-certified provider. Call 1-800-MEDIGAP if you need help.