Hospice and Medicare Alleviate Strain on Tri-State Families

No one likes to think about losing a loved one. Until a relative enters the end stages of life, most people do not think about death beyond the emotional toll the absence of a family member will take. Only when end of life is reached do the other stressors became apparent – the shift in family dynamics and, ultimately, the looming financial questions. Hospice care is focused as much on families as it is on patients. As part of the care provided to families, Hospice offers solutions to the end-of-life difficulties that extend beyond the patient.

Hospice seeks to make its unparalleled compassionate and dignified end-of-life care accessible to all. At Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, we provide this care in the comfort of patients’ homes, our peaceful Kaplan Family Hospice Residence, nursing homes, and group homes. Despite the wide availability of Hospice care, many families do not realize they can benefit from Hospice, mistakenly believing the care is expensive and, therefore, out of their reach. Because Hospice care is available through Medicare, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties is able to serve tri-state families of various income levels.

Hospice care is covered by Medicare/Medicaid (as well as many private insurance companies). To receive Hospice care under the Medicare benefit, patients must:

• Be eligible for Medicare Part A
• Agree that they want to receive palliative care rather than curative care
• Agree to receive hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered benefits to treat your terminal illness and related conditions
• Have a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of a life expectancy of six months or less, if the illness runs its normal course
• Medicare covers all hospice care in your home (does not include room and board in another facility where you live (hospice facility, nursing home, etc.)

Services are offered as long as needed by the patient.

Seeking end-of-life care comes with questions, so do not hesitate to contact us for more information regarding Hospice and Medicare.

Availability through Medicare adds yet another dimension to Hospice’s benefits to families. Hospice takes the onus of physical care off of relatives while alleviating the financial burdens that often come at end of life. This allows families to focus on what’s important – each other.