What Does Hospice Cost?

What Does Hospice Cost? If you’re searching for hospice care for someone you love, cost is probably something you’re thinking about. Most of the time hospice is covered by insurance, but there are a few other variables to consider. Whether it’s Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, hospice will partner with your insurance company to make sure that your loved ones end of life needs are paid for.

Breaking Down Cost

Debt is the last thing anyone wants to think of when dealing with the passing of a loved one. If your loved one has private insurance, first find out whether they cover end of life care. If not, that’s ok. Medicare will typically pay the majority of hospice services, which for inpatient stays can sometimes run as high as $10,000 per month, depending on the care needed.

While these are just estimations,  they should give you a general idea of cost. Home care typically averages around $150 a day, and up to $500 for general inpatient care per day. Facilities can vary, so it’s important to evaluate cost with the hospice provider beforehand. At Lighten Home Health and Hospice, we work closely with whatever insurance provider your loved one might have (private or public) so that all finances are processed correctly.

Hospice Admission

On average, families typically research hospice for six months or so before deciding on what type of care they want. This begins by the patient’s doctor deeming that they have less than six months to live. This way the facility has all the patient’s current information and can appropriately assign them to a hospice team for care. Lighten Home Health and Hospice works closely with the caregivers, the family, and the patient’s doctor to make sure that all of this is monitored and flows smoothly. This is the service you’re paying for.

Admission to hospice very similar what you might have experienced at a hospital. There are forms to be filled out and insurance will be outlined, so that hospice will be able to properly submit all forms from the patient to take care of the costs of their care. Ideally patients and families aren’t fussing over paperwork and are getting back to enjoying every moment they have left together.