Another good question via email today...I thought this was worth sharing with the whole...

My response is Medicare specific so if you have questions regarding other payors/insurers please don't hesitate to ask...

On to hospice care...here's a link to Medicare's Hospice Booklet:

http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/02154.pdf

Hospice care is covered under Medicare Part A (hospital insurance). The
requirements of eligbility include:

>eligibility for Medicare Part A
>certification by your physician and the hospice medical director that you
are terminally ill and have less than six months to live
>you sign a statement choosing hospice care rather than routine Medicare
covered benefits
>you receive care from a Medicare approved hospice program

Please review the booklet for more details. To find a hospice program near you use the following link to find a phone number for your state's hospice agency (all payors/insurers not just Medicare recipients):

http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/home.asp

Be sure to ask for a Medicare approved hospice to ensure coverage. This benefit is avaialbel to ALL Medicare Part A beneficiaries (children, elderly, etc.)