Medicare Part A covers hospice care from a Medicare-approved provider for people certified as terminally ill, with a life expectancy of six months or less, who choose comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. You pay $0 for covered hospice services. You may pay up to $5 per prescription for symptom control and 5% of the approved amount for inpatient respite care (Medicare.gov).
Room and board are not covered.
Who qualifies
Your parent must have Part A and meet all of these (Medicare.gov):
- The hospice doctor and the regular doctor, if there is one, certify that they are terminally ill, with a life expectancy of six months or less.
- They accept comfort (palliative) care instead of care to cure the illness.
- They sign a statement choosing hospice instead of other Medicare-covered treatments for the terminal illness and related conditions. This is called the Hospice Election Statement.
How long it lasts
| Period | Length | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| First benefit period | 90 days | Starts when the election statement takes effect |
| Second benefit period | 90 days | Continues if the person still qualifies |
| After that | 60 days each, no limit on the number | Each one needs recertification that the person is still terminally ill, after a face-to-face meeting with the hospice doctor or nurse practitioner |
Hospice can be stopped. The National Institute on Aging notes that a person can leave hospice to try treatment and can come back later (National Institute on Aging).
What you pay in 2026
| Item | Cost to you |
|---|---|
| Hospice care from a Medicare-approved provider | $0 |
| Outpatient prescriptions for pain and symptoms | Up to $5 each |
| Inpatient respite care, so the caregiver can rest | 5% of the Medicare-approved amount |
| Room and board at home, in a nursing home or in a hospice facility | Not covered, unless it is a short inpatient or respite stay arranged by the hospice team |
What Medicare stops paying for
Once hospice starts, Medicare will not cover these for the terminal illness and related conditions (Medicare.gov):
- Treatment intended to cure the illness.
- Prescription drugs to cure the illness, as opposed to relieving symptoms.
- Care from a hospice provider that the hospice team did not arrange.
- Hospital outpatient or inpatient care, or an ambulance, unless the hospice team arranged it or it is unrelated to the terminal illness.
Before going to the emergency room, call the hospice team. Medicare warns that you might have to pay the entire cost of care that the team did not arrange (Medicare.gov).
If you have a question about a charge
You can ask the hospice for a list of items, services and drugs it considers unrelated to the terminal illness, with the reason for each. It must give you the list within 3 to 5 days of your request (Medicare.gov). Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free Medicare counseling.
Common questions
Can a person stay on hospice longer than six months?
Yes. After the first two 90-day periods there can be an unlimited number of 60-day periods, as long as the hospice medical director or hospice doctor recertifies, after a face-to-face meeting, that the person is still terminally ill.
Can we change hospice providers?
Yes. A person has the right to change hospice providers once during each benefit period.
Can my parent keep their regular doctor?
Yes, if your parent has chosen that doctor or nurse practitioner as the attending professional who helps supervise hospice care.
Does hospice pay for a nursing home?
No. Medicare does not cover room and board for a person in hospice, at home or in a nursing home. The hospice care itself is covered, and short inpatient or respite stays arranged by the hospice team are covered.
Related guides
Sources
- Hospice care, Medicare.gov. Checked November 8, 2026.
- Medicare costs, Medicare.gov. Checked November 7, 2026.
- What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care?, National Institute on Aging (NIH). Checked November 8, 2026.
This guide explains general rules. It is not medical, legal or financial advice for your situation. Program rules and amounts change, usually each January (Medicare and Medicaid) and each October (VA). Confirm details with the agency or a qualified professional before you decide. See our editorial policy.