As family and friends are Celebrating Life’s Stories^® with their loved ones, worrying about paying for the compassionate care Ohio’s Hospice provides should be the last thing they worry about.

In most cases, hospice care is covered by the Medicare hospice benefit and is also an optional benefit under Medicaid. It’s also covered by most private insurance, managed care plans, TriCare, and Veteran’s Administration.

Medicare requires that hospice care is provided by a Medicare-certified hospice program; Ohio’s Hospice is a not-for-profit, community-based hospice supported by the communities we serve.

What is the Hospice Benefit and how does it work? 

The Hospice Benefit is an optional state plan service that includes an array of services furnished to terminally ill individuals.

If you have Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and meet all of these conditions, you can get hospice care coverage:

• Your hospice doctor and your regular doctor (if you have one) certify that you’re terminally ill (you’re expected to live 6 months or less).
• You accept comfort care (palliative care) instead of curative care for your terminal illness.
• You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered treatments for your terminal illness and related conditions. If you choose hospice care, you have the right to change your mind and stop getting hospice care to get treatments for your terminal illness. If you qualify for hospice care, you and your family will work with your hospice provider to set up a plan of care that meets your needs.

If you live longer than 6 months, you can still get hospice care as long as the hospice medical director or other hospice doctor recertifies that you’re terminally ill.

Who pays for hospice care? 

Your hospice benefit covers care for your terminal illness and related conditions. Once you start getting hospice care, Original Medicare will cover everything you need related to your terminal illness, even if you remain in a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan. 

If an individual is eligible for Medicaid, Medicare would be billed first. If Medicare or Medicaid are not your insurance providers, we work with most plans and can discuss your coverage options.