How Is Hospice Paid For?

Private insurance/HMOs:
Hospice of Kitsap County works closely with private insurance companies and HMOs to maximize the available hospice benefits.

Medicare/Medicaid:
Hospice of Kitsap County accepts the Medicare hospice benefit as 100% coverage for its services, with no patient co-payments for related services. This is inclusive of all professional visits and services, drugs, equipment, and supplies related to the terminal illness in the patient's plan of care. Hospice of Kitsap County also accepts the Medicaid benefit as 100% coverage.

The Medicare Hospice Benefit view PDF
Who is eligible for Medicare Hospice Benefits?
Hospice care is covered under Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance). You are eligible for Medicare hospice benefits when:

• You are eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance)
• Your doctor and the hospice medical director certify that you are terminally ill and probably have less than six months to live: and
• You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of routine Medicare covered benefits for your terminal illness; and
• You receive care from a Medicare-approved hospice program
• Medicare will still pay for covered benefits that are not related to your terminal illness.

How does hospice work?
Your doctor and the hospice will work with you and your family to set up a plan of care that meets your needs. The plan of care includes the hospice services you need that are covered by Medicare. Below is a list of these services, including grief and loss counseling for your family.

The care that hospice gives you is meant to help you make the most of the last months of life by giving you comfort and relief from pain. The focus is on comfort, not cure.

What does Medicare cover?
All treatment associated with the terminal illness including:

• Doctor services
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers…)
• Medical supplies (bandages, catheters, …)
• Drugs for symptom control and pain relief
• Short-term care in the hospital, including respite
• Home health aide and homemaker services
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Social worker services
• Dietary counseling
• Counseling to help you and your family with grief and loss

What is not covered?

• Treatment to cure your terminal illness - As a hospice patient, you get comfort care to help you cope with your illness, not cure it. Comfort care includes medications for symptom control and pain relief, physical care, counseling, and other hospice services. Hospice uses medicine, equipment, and supplies to make you as comfortable and pain-free as possible. Medicare will not pay for treatment to cure your illness. You should talk to your doctor if you are thinking about potential treatment to cure your illness. As a hospice patient, you always have the right to stop getting hospice care and go back to your regular doctor or health plan.
• Care from another hospice that was not set up by your hospice - You must get hospice care from the hospice provider you chose. You cannot get hospice care from another hospice provider, unless you change your hospice provider.
  * All care that you get for your terminal illness must be given by your hospice team. You cannot get the same type of care from a different provider unless you change your hospice provider.

Can I keep my Medicare health plan?
Yes. You should use your Medicare health plan to get care for any health problems that are not related to your terminal illness. You may be able to get this care from your own doctor who is not part the hospice, or from the hospice doctor. When you use your Medicare health plan, you must pay the deductible and coinsurance amounts (if you have the Original Medicare Plan), or the co-payment (if you have the Medicare managed care plan). For more information about Medicare health plans, including deductibles, coinsurance, and co-payments, look in your Medicare & You handbook. If you do not have the Medicare handbook, you can get a free copy by calling 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE).

Important information about Medicare Supplemental Insurance: If you are in the Original Medicare Plan, you may have a Medicare Supplemental Insurance or "Medigap" policy. Your Medigap policy still helps to cover the costs for the care of health problems that are not related to your terminal illness. Call your insurance company for more information, or call 1-800-633-4227 and ask for a free copy of the Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.

How long can I receive hospice care?
You can receive hospice care as long as your doctor certifies that you are terminally ill and probably have less than six months to live. Even if you live longer than six months, you can receive hospice care as long as your doctor recertifies that you are terminally ill.

For more information or to make a referral to Hospice, please contact our office at (360) 698-4611.