Elderly Care: Hospices
Posted in Health Insurance
February 18th, 2009
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Hospices are the final refuge for those completing their lifes journey. At a certain point in time, everyone needs to accept the final chapter and no amount of treatment, medicine or prayer will sustain a life forever. Hospices are health care facilities dedicated to help ensure those final moments are noble and dignified. Most hospices receive patients who have 6 months or less to live.
Hospice Coverage
Although most private insurance providers do cover hospice care, it’s important to read the insured policy to make sure it is true. Hospice coverage is offered nationally by Medicare and is provided in 47 states by Medicaid. If however, the time comes and you realize too late that the policyholder is without a hospice care provision in their insurance, speak directly to the hospice staff. It is their goal to assist the families of the dying, and they may be able to find out if there are additional resources to cover the expenses.
The best time to investigate whether an insurance policy provides for hospice care is while you or your loved one are still in a good state of health and mind. That way you can react quickly, research the situation and thoroughly prepare for the worst case scenario.