Is hospice care covered by insurance?
Comfort-focused care for terminal illness. Here’s how each kind of plan usually handles it.
- Employer or MarketplaceUsually covered
Yes, hospice is usually covered with little or no cost sharing.
More details
Most plans cover hospice for people with a terminal prognosis, often at $0.
Cost: Often $0.
- Original MedicareUsually covered
Yes, Part A covers hospice with almost no cost.
More details
You may pay up to $5 per prescription for symptom control and 5% for inpatient respite care. pays even if you have .
Cost: Usually $0; small drug copays may apply.
- Medicare AdvantageUsually covered
Yes, Original Medicare pays for hospice even if you have Medicare Advantage.
More details
When you choose hospice, covers it and the hospice care itself. Your plan keeps covering care unrelated to your terminal illness and any extra benefits like dental or vision, as long as you stay in the plan.
Cost: Usually $0; up to $5 per prescription for symptom control.
- MedicaidUsually covered
Yes, most states cover hospice.
More details
Children can receive hospice and curative treatment at the same time.
What usually has to be true
- A doctor certifies a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
Good to know
- Palliative care (symptom relief) can be received alongside curative treatment and is billed as regular medical care.
Related
- Home health care · Skilled nursing and therapy visits at home.
- Cancer treatment · Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and oncology care.
Sources
Typical rules for 2026 plans, checked against these sources on October 20, 2026. Your plan’s own documents decide.
- 1What Marketplace plans cover
HealthCare.gov
Marketplace plans cover outpatient care, hospitalization, mental health care, prescription drugs, rehabilitation, laboratory services, preventive services, and other essential benefit categories.
- 2Hospice care
Medicare.gov
Part A covers hospice care for people with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less; you may pay a small copay for drugs and respite care. Original Medicare pays for hospice even for Medicare Advantage members.
- 3Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Medicare.gov
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare covers (except hospice, which Original Medicare continues to pay), usually use provider networks, often require referrals or prior authorization, and may offer extra benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing.
- 4Mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits
Medicaid.gov
States must cover mandatory benefits such as inpatient and outpatient hospital care, physician services, laboratory and X-ray services, home health, and nursing facility care; many other benefits, including adult dental, vision, and prescription drugs coverage details, are state options.
General information about how coverage usually works, not a decision about your plan. Your plan documents and insurer have the final word.