Monday, January 12, 2015

Hospice Benefits Under Medicare

Have you ever wondered if you or a loved one

might qualify for hospice care?

The purpose of hospice is to preserve the quality of life for those who have a limited time to live. Hospice workers address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of a terminally ill person who is expected to live six months or less.

If you or your loved one is eligible for Medicare, his or her hospice care might be covered.

All of the following requirements must be met:

· Eligible for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance).

· Your doctor certifies that you or your loved one is terminally ill and has 6 months or less to live.

· You accept palliative Care (for comfort) instead of care to cure your illness.

· You or your loved one (or Power of Attorney/legal guardian) signs a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered benefits to treat the terminal illness.

· Care must be provided by a Medicare-approved hospice program. This means that the hospice you choose must have a license certification from Medicare. The hospice benefit under Medicare includes two 90-day hospice benefit periods followed by an unlimited number of 60-day benefit periods.

There is additional information available online at

www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-and-respite-care.html

What hospice costs are not covered?

· Treatment, including medications, equipment and supplies for conditions unrelated to the life-limiting illness.

· Care from physicians or other health care providers that are not related to the life-limiting illness.

· Room and board if you live at home, in a nursing home, or in a hospice residential facility.

· Emergency room visits, inpatient facility care, and ambulance transportation unless arranged by your hospice medical team; treatment, including medications, equipment and supplies for conditions unrelated to the life-limiting illness.

Volunteers are a very important part of hospice care. Medicare requires that 5% of total patient care hours be volunteer hours.

Volunteering in hospice is a choice that creates rewards for patients and families. The ultimate surprise is the growth a volunteer develops from learning more about themselves with every visit to their patient. You learn to communicate in ways that increase your own appreciation of life. Your views of daily situations take on a holistic perspective. Nothing will ever be the same in your personal or professional life if you are correctly trained as a hospice volunteer.