Medicare, Medicaid, managed care programs and in some instances commercial insurance programs provide coverage for hospice care.
Medicare
Most of our patients are eligible for Medicare coverage. LifePath accepts the Medicare hospice benefit payment for 100 percent of a
patient’s hospice care, that is, hospice services are fully reimbursable by Medicare. LifePath requires no patient co-payments for our
services. LifePath also accepts the Medicaid benefit as complete payment for our services.
Medicare Eligibility
Patients are eligible for Medicare hospice benefits if:
They are eligible for Medicare Part A (also called the hospital insurance portion of Medicare),
The patient’s doctor and LifePath’s medical director certify the patient is terminally ill,
The patient chooses to end treatments aimed at attempting to cure the disease or condition and elects treatment that eases pain and
discomfort,
and a Medicare-certified hospice program, such as LifePath Hospice, provides the care.
Under the Medicare Hospice benefit, beneficiaries elect to receive what is called palliative treatment - treatment that helps ease pain
and discomforting symptoms, rather than trying to cure a disease. By accepting the hospice benefit of Medicare, the patient waives
Medicare coverage for treatment of the terminal illness. However, the patient may continue to access standard Medicare benefits for
treatment of conditions unrelated to the terminal illness.
What does Medicare cover?
Hospice benefits, which are paid in total by Medicare, include:
Doctor services related to the terminal illness
Regular home care visits by a nurse
Visits by a home healthcare aide for such services as dressing and bathing
Chaplain services for the patient and the family, if desired
Social work and counseling services
Bereavement counseling
Medical equipment such as a hospital bed, wheelchair, or walker
Medical supplies such as bandages or catheter
Drugs to control symptoms and relieve pain
Physical, speech and occupational therapy
Dietary counseling
Short-term hospital care, including respite care for caregivers
LifePath’s hospice services are available to patients at their own home or in nursing homes, hospitals, or other long-term care or
assisted living facilities. The Medicare benefit for hospice care does not cover expenses for room and board at nursing homes or
long-term care and assisted living facilities. Medicaid and some personal insurance plans, however, cover these room and board expenses.
For patient evaluation, referrals or inquiries and the location of LifePath Hospice, please visit our Contact Us page.
Medicaid
LifePath accepts the Medicaid Hospice benefit for 100 percent of the charges associated with our services. The services provided by
LifePath under the Medicaid Hospice benefit are the same as those provided under Medicare. For patient evaluation, referrals and
inquiries and the location of LifePath Hospice, please visit our Contact Us page.
Managed Care/HMO
LifePath will work with you to maximize any hospice benefits available. Managed care organizations must allow patients or their
families to choose from all Medicare-certified hospices, such as LifePath. For patient evaluation, referrals and inquiries and the
location of LifePath Hospice, please visit our Contact Us page.
Private Insurance
LifePath will work with you to maximize any hospice benefits available under your private insurance coverage. For patient evaluation,
referrals and inquiries, please visit our Contact Us page.
Medigap
Patients in the Original Medicare program may have a Medicare Supplemental Insurance or Medigap policy. Medigap will assist in
covering the treatment and care costs of health problems not related to a patient’s terminal illness.
