| Question | Palliative Care | Hospice Care |
|---|
| Who can receive this care? |
Anyone with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy, can receive palliative care |
Someone with an illness with a life expectancy measured in months not years |
| Can I continue to receive treatments to cure my illness? |
You may receive palliative care and curative care at the same time |
Treatments and medicines aimed at relieving symptoms are provided by hospice |
| Does Medicare pay? |
Some treatments and medications may be covered |
Medicare pays all charges related to hospice |
| Does Medicaid pay? |
Some treatments and medications may be covered |
In 47 states, Medicaid pays all charges related to hospice |
| Does private insurance pay? |
Some treatments and medications may be covered |
Most insurance plans have a hospice benefit |
| Is this a package deal? |
No, there is no ‘palliative care’ package, the services are flexible and based on the patient’s needs |
Medicare and Medicaid hospice benefits are package deals |
| How long can I receive care? |
This will depend upon your care needs, and the coverage you have through Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance |
As long as you meet the hospice’s criteria of an illness with a life expectancy of months not years |
| What organization provides these services? |
- Hospitals
- Hospices
- Nursing Facilities
- Healthcare Clinics
|
- Hospice organizations
- Hospice programs based out of a hospital
- Other healthcare organizations
|
| Where are services provided? |
- Home
- Assisted living facility
- Nursing facility
- Hospital
|
- Usually, wherever the patient resides, in their home, assisted living facility, nursing facility, or hospital.
- Some hospices have facilities where people can live, like a hospice residence, or receive care for short-term reasons, such as acute pain or symptom management.
|
| Who provides these services? |
It varies. However usually there is a team including doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains, similar to the hospice team. |
A team – doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain, volunteer, home health aide and others. |
