Hospice care

Hospice care comprises a host of treatments at  the end of a person's life. Medicare will pay for a long list of hospice  services, including nursing care, and grief and loss counseling for the  patient and family.

Hospice coverage applies when a Medicare  recipient has been given six months or less to live and has agreed to  forgo further attempts at a cure.

Medicare-certified hospice care  usually takes place where you already live — whether that be at home or  in a nursing home. You can also receive hospice care in an inpatient  facility. However, it’s important to note Medicare doesn’t cover your  room and board, though it may pay for a short-term stay at a hospice  facility if your hospice team determines you need that.

If you’re  dealing with any other health issues not related to your terminal  illness, that should also still be covered by Medicare. But the  government’s Medicare site points out that’s fairly unusual. Once you  select hospice care, the hospice benefit typically covers everything you  need.