--- title: "Hospice and palliative care: a family guide" description: "What hospice is, who qualifies, what Medicare pays, how it differs from palliative care, and when to call. Plain answers from Medicare and NIA sources." url: https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/ updated: 2026-10-10 site: Senior Choice Care --- Hospice and palliative care # Hospice and palliative care: what families need to know Hospice is end-of-life care focused on comfort, and it usually comes to wherever your parent lives. Palliative care is comfort care that can start at any stage of a serious illness. These pages explain both, in the order most families need them. **5 minute read** Updated October 9, 2026Written by the Senior Choice Care team In short Hospice is care for someone with an illness that can't be cured, focused on comfort rather than treatment to cure it. Medicare Part A covers it when a doctor certifies a life expectancy of six months or less and your parent chooses comfort care. It is usually given at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home. **Written by the Senior Choice Care team** Updated October 9, 2026. Facts are checked against the sources listed at the end of this page. General information; every family is different. **On this page** 1. [ Hospice and palliative care are not the same thing](#s-hospice-and-palliative-care-are-not-the-) 2. [What the Medicare hospice benefit covers](#s-what-the-medicare-hospice-benefit-covers) 3. [Where to start](#s-where-to-start) 4. [Questions families ask](#s-faq) ## Hospice and palliative care are not the same thing Palliative care is care that eases symptoms and stress for anyone with a serious illness. It can start at diagnosis and run alongside treatment. Hospice is one kind of palliative care, for the last months of life, when the goal has moved from cure to comfort. The [full comparison](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/palliative-care-vs-hospice/) walks through the differences in eligibility, cost and setting. ## What the Medicare hospice benefit covers Once a hospice is chosen, Medicare's booklet says the benefit should cover what your parent needs for the terminal illness and related conditions: doctor and nursing care, medical equipment, drugs for pain and symptoms, aide and homemaker services, therapy, social work, counseling for the family, short inpatient stays and short respite stays. A hospice nurse and doctor are on call 24 hours a day. It does not cover treatment meant to cure the illness, or room and board in a nursing home or assisted living. That second point surprises many families: the facility's monthly fee keeps going. ## Where to start [Explainer ### What is comfort care? Comfort care aims to ease pain and distress, not cure illness. What it includes, how it relates to hospice and palliative care, and what to ask the doctor. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/comfort-care/)[ Explainer ### End-of-life care: options and planning End-of-life care covers comfort, emotional and spiritual support. Where it can happen, hospice and palliative options, and how to plan. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/end-of-life-care/)[ Explainer ### Hospice at home: what to expect What hospice at home provides, what family still does, after-hours help, equipment and respite, and how to prepare the house. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-at-home/)[ Explainer ### Hospice eligibility: the Medicare criteria in plain words The three Medicare conditions for hospice: Part A, a six-month certification and choosing comfort care. Plus recertification, and what if health improves. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-eligibility/)[ Explainer ### Hospice in a nursing home Hospice can come to a nursing home resident. What the hospice adds, what the nursing home still does, and why room and board isn't covered. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-in-a-nursing-home/)[ Explainer ### Hospice respite care: a break for the family caregiver Medicare hospice respite gives the family caregiver a break of up to five days in an approved facility. How it works, the 5% cost and how to ask. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-respite-care/)[ Compare ### Hospice vs home health care Both come to the home, but they serve different goals. Eligibility, what each covers, and how Medicare pays for hospice and home health compared. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-vs-home-health/)[ Compare ### Hospice vs nursing home: how they differ Hospice is a type of care; a nursing home is a place. How they differ, how they work together, and what Medicare pays for each. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-vs-nursing-home/)[ Quick answer ### How long can you be on hospice? Two 90-day periods, then unlimited 60-day periods, as long as a hospice doctor recertifies. What happens at six months and if your parent improves. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/how-long-can-you-be-on-hospice/)[ Explainer ### The four levels of hospice care Routine home care, continuous home care, general inpatient care and inpatient respite: what each means, when it's used and where it happens, per CMS. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/levels-of-hospice-care/)[ Quick answer ### Does Medicare cover hospice? What the benefit pays for Medicare Part A covers hospice with no deductible. What's included, the $5 drug copay, 5% respite cost, room and board, and Medicare Advantage rules. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/medicare-hospice-benefit/)[ Explainer ### Palliative care at home How palliative care can be given at home, who provides it, how it differs from hospice at home, and the questions to ask before starting. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/palliative-care-at-home/)[ Compare ### Palliative care vs hospice: how they differ and how to choose Palliative care can start at diagnosis alongside treatment. Hospice is for the last six months, focused on comfort. Eligibility, cost and setting compared. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/palliative-care-vs-hospice/)[ Explainer ### Signs that the end of life may be near Common changes in the last days and weeks of life, what they mean, and how to keep your loved one comfortable. Gentle guidance from NIA and MedlinePlus. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/signs-of-end-of-life/)[ Explainer ### What is palliative care? Palliative care improves quality of life for people with serious illness, at any stage and alongside treatment. Who it helps and who provides it. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/what-is-palliative-care/)[ Decision guide ### When to call hospice: signs it may be time to ask Signs families and doctors look for, what to ask the doctor, and why an early hospice call often helps. Based on Medicare hospice rules and NIA guidance. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/when-to-call-hospice/) You can ask for a one-time consultation with a hospice medical director or hospice doctor before choosing hospice. Medicare covers it even if your parent decides not to start hospice. ### Not sure whether it's time? Tell us what the doctors have said. We can explain the options and what to ask a hospice before you choose one. Free. [(800) 614-8388](tel:+18006148388)[Have us call you](#art-form) ## Questions families ask ### Who pays for hospice? For people with Medicare Part A, the hospice benefit pays for covered hospice care from a Medicare-approved hospice. Your parent may owe up to $5 per prescription for pain and symptom drugs and 5% of the approved amount for inpatient respite care. ### Can hospice be provided in a nursing home or assisted living? Yes. Medicare says hospice can usually be given in the home or the facility where your parent lives, including assisted living and nursing homes. The hospice benefit does not pay the facility's room and board. ### Does choosing hospice mean giving up all treatment? It means giving up treatment intended to cure the terminal illness. Care for other health problems is still covered by Medicare in the usual way, and your parent can stop hospice at any time. ### Is palliative care only for the end of life? No. The National Institute on Aging describes palliative care as available to anyone with a serious illness, at any age, starting as early as diagnosis and alongside other treatment. ## Sources - [Medicare.gov: Hospice care coverage](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care) - [Medicare Hospice Benefits (official booklet 02154)](https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02154-medicare-hospice-benefits.pdf) - [National Institute on Aging: What are palliative care and hospice care?](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hospice-and-palliative-care/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care) - [CMS: Hospice (benefit, levels of care, coinsurance)](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-for-service-providers/hospice) ## Read next - [Care-level matcher](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/care-level-matcher/) - [Care options](https://seniorchoicecare.com/care-options/) - [After the hospital](https://seniorchoicecare.com/after-the-hospital/) - [Comfort care](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/comfort-care/) - [End-of-life care](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/end-of-life-care/) - [Hospice at home](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-at-home/) - [Hospice eligibility](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-eligibility/) - [Hospice in a nursing home](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/hospice-in-a-nursing-home/) --- Canonical page: https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/