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How Much Does In-Home Hospice Care Cost?
Date Updated: December 12, 2024
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Sarah has produced thousands of articles in diverse niches over her decade-long career as a full-time freelance writer. This includes substantial content in the fields of senior care and health care. She has experience writing about wide-ranging topics, such as types of care, care costs, funding options, state Medicaid programs and senior resources.
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Kristi Bickmann, a licensed Long-Term Care Specialist, represents top-rated "Traditional" & "Hybrid" LTC companies. Serving associations such as the American Nurses Association, she's a licensed insurance agent in 27 states. Specializing in insurance products for seniors, Kristi helps hundreds of families every year protect assets, retirement, and loved ones. She understands aging concerns firsthand, having assisted her own parents. Kristi ensures accuracy on topics about senior long-term care and its consequences.
In-home hospice care costs at least $10,000 per month, according to a report from 2013. Exact amounts differ depending on the type of care services and number of care hours needed. Costs also vary across the nation. Although pricey, in-home support typically costs less than inpatient care.
Overview of In-Home Hospice Care
An individual can receive hospice services in various settings, including their private residence, an assisted living facility, a nursing home and a specialized hospice facility. In-home care involves regular visits from a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals and aides, allowing individuals to remain at home.
When someone chooses the hospice pathway, curative treatments stop. Instead, they receive hands-on assistance with everyday tasks, therapies and nursing care designed to promote comfort, boost dignity and relieve suffering during their final days. Holistic hospice care also includes counseling, spiritual care and family support.
Benefit Funding for In-Home Hospice Care
Many terminally ill individuals aged 65 and older qualify for hospice coverage under Medicare Part A. A doctor must certify that the person has a terminal condition and a life expectancy of no more than six months. Additionally, Medicare-certified agencies must deliver in-home services.
Many states offer hospice care coverage as an optional benefit under their regular Medicaid programs. As with Medicare, qualification criteria include a terminal diagnosis from a physician and a doctor certifying hospice care is medically necessary and beneficial. Eligible veterans receive at-home comfort care through VA benefits, which also includes an expectation of the recipient living no longer than six months.
Other Ways to Pay for In-Home Hospice Services
Many long-term care insurance plans cover hospice care, and some life insurance policies allow seniors to cash them in early, freeing up funds to pay for their care. Those who own a home could consider a reverse mortgage, whereby borrowed sums become payable from their estate after their death. Seniors with sizable assets may cover their care from private funds. However, many charities and nonprofit organizations provide financial assistance and subsidized care for those facing hardship near the end of their lives.