Financial Information

Who pays for hospice?

Medicare, Medi-Cal and some private insurances cover the cost of hospice services.

What is the difference between Medicare and Medi-Cal?

Medicare

Medicare is a health insurance program based on federal and state laws. Under Medicare Part A, all the following services are covered when utilizing the hospice benefit:

Medical Director services
Skilled nursing services
Certified home health aide services
Social work services
Spiritual counselor services
Bereavement services
Volunteer services
Short-term inpatient level of care
Short-term respite level of care

Durable medical equipment
Hospice related medical supplies
Hospice related wound supplies
Hospice related medications
Physical Therapy services
Occupational Therapy services
Speech Pathology services
Specialty programs offered by the hospice company

For more information on Medicare, visit https://www.medicare.gov/

Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal is the Medicaid health care program for the state of California. When utilizing the hospice benefit Medi-Cal typically covers the cost of room and board when a patient’s residence is a nursing facility. When a hospice appropriate patient is not yet eligible for Medicare benefits, Medi-Cal may step in as the primary payor source for all the hospice services.

For more information on Medi-Cal, visit http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Private Insurances

If a hospice appropriate patient has a private insurance as their primary payor source, the hospice company will take the necessary steps to inquire the needed prior authorization on behalf of the patient.

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