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How Can I Afford Hospice Care?

Dying · 6 min read · First published 2005 · Updated November 2026

Morning light through a window over an unmade bed
Photo by David Lundgren on Unsplash

A. There are several ways to pay for hospice care. Here are the main ones, as of 2026.

Medicare. Most people who receive hospice are covered by Medicare. To qualify, you need Medicare Part A, and your hospice doctor (and your regular doctor, if you have one) must certify that you are terminally ill, with a life expectancy of six months or less. You also choose comfort care instead of treatment meant to cure the illness, and you sign a statement saying so. Hospice care from a Medicare-approved provider costs you little or nothing. You may pay up to $5 for each outpatient prescription for pain and symptom control, and 5% of the Medicare-approved amount if you need a short inpatient respite stay to give your caregivers a break. Medicare does not pay room and board if you get hospice care at home or in a facility where you live, such as a nursing home. You can stay in hospice longer than six months if the hospice doctor recertifies that you are still terminally ill.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, Original Medicare pays for everything related to your terminal illness, and you can stay in your plan as long as you keep paying its premiums. Your plan continues to cover care for health problems that are not related to your terminal illness. Your plan must also help you find a Medicare-approved hospice in your area. Ask your hospice and your plan how your other care will be handled.

Medicaid. Medicaid can pay for hospice if you do not have Medicare or do not qualify for it, but hospice is an optional Medicaid benefit, so coverage varies by state. Call your state Medicaid office or ask the hospice to check for you.

Veterans benefits. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can receive hospice when they have a clinical need for it, whether from the VA or from a community hospice that contracts with the VA. The VA says there are no copays for hospice care. Ask your VA social worker to help you get started. TRICARE also covers hospice for military families.

Private insurance. Many employer and private plans cover at least some hospice care, but the rules differ from plan to plan. Call your insurer and ask. Long-term care insurance policies also vary, so ask the company what yours covers.

It helps to know that hospice usually brings a nurse, doctor, social worker, aide and chaplain or spiritual counselor, plus medicines for symptom relief, medical equipment and supplies, and grief support for your family after a death. Ask the hospice what each payer covers so you aren't surprised later.

What if I have no coverage, or not enough?

Hospices set their own prices and policies, and the sources we read give no typical private-pay price, so we won't guess at one. What we can say is that many hospices offer care at no cost or at a reduced rate based on your ability to pay, often funded by donations and grants. CaringInfo says nearly all hospices have financial support staff who can help with these questions. Ask to speak with that person before you decide anything, and ask for any estimate in writing. Don't let money worries stop you from calling. Asking costs nothing.

The costs that can surprise families

Hospice itself may cost little or nothing, but a few other costs can catch people off guard.

  • Room and board. Medicare does not pay for room and board if you live in a nursing home or other facility, even when hospice is covering your care there.
  • Care the hospice did not arrange. All care for your terminal illness must be given or arranged by the hospice team. Medicare warns that hospital outpatient care (such as an emergency room visit), hospital stays or ambulance rides that the hospice team did not arrange may not be covered. In its words, "Contact your hospice team before you get any of these services or you might have to pay the entire cost." A hospice nurse and doctor are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so call them first, even in the middle of the night.
  • Care for other conditions. Deductibles and coinsurance for Original Medicare services unrelated to your terminal illness may still apply.

Questions to ask a hospice about cost

It is fine to ask these before you sign anything, and a good hospice will be glad to answer.

  • Are you Medicare-approved? (You can also compare Medicare-approved hospices at Medicare.gov/care-compare.)
  • What will my insurance cover, and what will I be asked to pay? Can you put that in writing?
  • Which medicines, equipment and supplies are included, and which are not?
  • If I live in a nursing home or assisted living, who pays for room and board?
  • Who do I call if there is a problem in the middle of the night?
  • What help is available if I cannot pay? Is there a financial counselor I can speak with?
  • What support does my family get after a death, and does it cost anything?

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) with questions about the Medicare hospice benefit. Your state's Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can help with questions about plans and appeals, and you can find yours at shiphelp.org. Medicare also allows a one-time consultation with a hospice medical director or hospice doctor to talk about your options, even if you decide not to start hospice.

When you are ready for more than numbers, our hospice FAQ answers common questions about what hospice is like day to day. Hospice FAQs living wills and advance directives

For more information on paying for hospice:

Sources

Written by Words to Comfort

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