| Frequently Asked Questions - Hospice of North Alabama |
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1. How much does hospice care cost? What can I expect to spend out of pocket for hospice care? Hospice is covered by Medicare nationwide and Medicaid is covered in Alabama. Most insurance providers also cover the cost of hospice care. Medicare covers the full scope of medical and support services provided by hospice. There is little, if any, expense to the patient. 2. Who qualifies for hospice care? The Medicare Hospice Benefit is available to all patients with the Medicare part A benefit and with a life expectancy of six months or less if the terminal illness or disease runs its normal course. The patient, of course, must choose to begin hospice, and the patient’s eligibility must be certified by a physician. 3. Who chooses the hospice company? The patient has the right to choose their hospice company. If you have any questions regarding a particular hospice, please discuss them with your physician. 4. What is the first step? Once the patient has discussed their medical wishes with their physician, they together can choose which hospice company they prefer to provide the patient’s end of life care. At this time, the physician, patient or patient’s family can contact Hospice of North Alabama to begin the admission process. If there are any questions you have that have not been answered, please feel free to call our office. The contact information can be found on our Contact Us page. |
