Medicare Part A covers hospice for eligible people with a terminal illness who choose comfort-focused care instead of treatment intended to cure that illness.
Hospice is end-of-life care focused on comfort and quality of life. It can be provided at home or in another place where the patient lives.
Who Qualifies?
You must have Part A and meet these conditions:
- A hospice doctor and your regular doctor, if you have one, certify that you are terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less
- You choose care focused on comfort and symptom relief, called palliative care, instead of treatment intended to cure the terminal illness and related conditions
- You sign a statement choosing the Medicare hospice benefit
- You use a Medicare-approved hospice provider
Coverage can continue beyond six months if the hospice doctor confirms that you still qualify.
What Does Hospice Cover?
The hospice plan of care can include:
- Doctor and nursing services
- Pain and symptom-management drugs
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Counseling and social services
- Home health aide services
- Spiritual care
- Short-term inpatient symptom management
- Short-term respite care, which gives caregivers a break
- Grief support for the family
You generally pay nothing for covered hospice care, up to $5 for each outpatient drug for pain or symptom management, and 5% of the approved amount for inpatient respite care.
Medicare generally does not cover room and board where you live, including in a nursing home, except during covered short-term inpatient or respite care.
Who Arranges and Pays for Other Care?
The hospice team must provide or arrange care for the terminal illness and related conditions. Before arranging related hospital, ambulance or outside care, contact the hospice first. You may have to pay the bill if you arrange related care outside the hospice team.
Choosing hospice does not end coverage for unrelated health problems. Original Medicare still pays for eligible unrelated services, with applicable deductibles and coinsurance. If you have Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare pays the hospice benefit; ask both the hospice and plan how they will handle other covered services and supplemental benefits. Medicare explains the hospice payment rules.
Can You Leave Hospice?
Yes. You can stop hospice and return to regular Medicare-covered treatment at any time. You may choose hospice again later if you qualify.
Review Medicare's hospice coverage rules before signing the statement choosing hospice.
Ask the hospice for an explanation of what it considers related to the terminal illness and whom to call before arranging other care. Keep its after-hours number where the patient and caregivers can find it.
Medicare policy sources last checked: October 8, 2026.