No One is Turned Away

If you are uninsured and in need of hospice services for yourself, your child or other family members, you may apply for Medicaid and possibly receive Empath Hospice services under a Medicaid plan. Once enrolled in Medicaid, all hospice services listed above will be covered for you or your family member.

If you do not have insurance and are unable to pay for care, we are able to provide services thanks to the community’s generous contributions to our Suncoast Hospice Foundation, Empath Health member supporting Empath Hospice patients and families. Our Foundation also may help you or your family in need of essentials for daily living, such as food and utility assistance.

Your hospice benefit is provided under Part A (hospital insurance). To receive hospice care in connection with your Medicare benefits:

• Your physician and your hospice’s medical director must certify that you have a serious, life-limiting illness and six months or less to live if your illness runs its normal course.
• You must sign a statement indicating that you choose to have hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered benefits to treat your terminal illness.
• Your care must be provided by a Medicare-approved hospice program, such as Empath Hospice.
• Medicare will still pay for covered benefits for any health problems that are not related to your hospice diagnosis.

When you qualify for hospice care you will have a hospice team available to help you and your family cope with your illness. Your doctor and hospice team will work with you and your family to set up a plan of care that meets your needs. Your plan includes hospice services that are covered by the Hospice Medicare Benefit. Most costs are paid for under the benefit.

Services covered include:

• Doctor’s visits when necessary
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment related to your hospice diagnosis (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.)
• Medical supplies related to your hospice diagnosis (bandages, catheters, etc.)
• Pain and symptom medication related to your hospice diagnosis
• Home health aide services
• Physical, speech and occupational therapies
• Social work, counseling and spiritual care
• Dietary counseling
• Hospice volunteer services
• Grief counseling for you and your family

Respite care allows a patient’s caregiver time to get some rest while someone else assumes the role of caregiver. As a hospice patient, you may have one person who takes care of you each day, perhaps a family member. But occasionally your caregiver might need to tend to things that need to be done or just get some rest. Respite care is available for up to five days at a time.

All Medicare-covered services you get while in hospice care are covered under the Original Medicare Plan, even if you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare Health Plan. However, your plan will continue to cover you for any extra services not covered by the Original Medicare Plan (like dental or vision benefits). If you choose to stay in your Medicare Advantage Plan while getting hospice care, you must continue to pay your plan’s monthly premium.

You should continue to use the Original Medicare Plan to get care for any health problems that are not related to your hospice diagnosis. The hospice team determines whether any other medical care you need is or is not related to your hospice diagnosis so it will not affect your care under the hospice benefit. You must pay the deductible and coinsurance amounts for all Medicare-covered services. You must also continue to pay Medicare premiums, if necessary.

For more information about the Original Medicare Plan, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap and other Medicare Health Plans, look in your copy of the “Medicare and You” handbook mailed to every Medicare household in the fall. If you do not have that handbook, you can visit the Medicare website. You also may get a free copy by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

For more information about The Hospice Medicare Benefit, visit the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization or the Hospice Association of America websites or call 1-800-MEDICARE. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.