Guide · US edition · Updated 2026-10-29

The Medicare Hospice Benefit, Explained for Families

Hospice is care focused on comfort and quality of life for people with a terminal illness. Families often wish they had started it sooner. Here's how the Medicare hospice benefit works.

Who qualifies

Under Medicare Part A, a person can generally choose hospice when:

their hospice doctor and regular doctor (if they have one) certify they are terminally ill, meaning a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course,
they accept comfort care (palliative care) instead of care to cure the illness, and
they sign a statement choosing hospice.

People can stay on hospice longer than six months if they continue to meet the criteria, and they can stop hospice at any time.

What Medicare covers

Generally, care related to the terminal illness, including:

doctor and nursing services
medical equipment (such as a hospital bed or wheelchair) and supplies
drugs for symptom control and pain relief
hospice aide and homemaker services
social work, dietary counseling and spiritual counseling
short-term inpatient care for pain and symptom management
short-term respite care so the family caregiver can rest
grief support for the family

Hospice care is usually given at home, including in a nursing home or assisted living.

What it doesn't cover

Treatment intended to cure the terminal illness
Prescription drugs to cure the illness
Room and board at home or in a nursing facility (in most cases)
Care from a provider not arranged by the hospice team

There may be a small copayment for some drugs and for inpatient respite care.

Questions to ask a hospice provider

How quickly can you start?
How often will a nurse visit? Who answers the phone at night?
What happens in a crisis?
Which equipment and supplies do you provide?
What respite and volunteer support do you offer?

For questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or see Medicare.gov.

Source: Medicare.gov, "Hospice care" and "Medicare Hospice Benefits." General information, not medical or legal advice.

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