---
title: "Questions to ask a hospice before you choose one"
description: "A printable list of questions to ask a hospice about visits, after-hours help, levels of care, respite, quality ratings and costs, built on Medicare rules."
url: https://seniorchoicecare.com/questions-to-ask/hospice/
updated: 2026-10-10
site: Senior Choice Care
---

Printable checklist

# Questions to ask a hospice before you choose

Medicare lets your parent choose any Medicare-approved hospice, and change once per benefit period. These questions help you choose well the first time.

**2 minute read** Updated October 9, 2026Written by the Senior Choice Care team

In short

Ask any hospice how fast it can start, how often nurses and aides will visit, how quickly someone comes at night, which levels of care it provides, where respite and inpatient stays happen, and what your parent might pay. Then check the hospice on Medicare's Care Compare before you sign the election statement.

**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.

### Questions to ask a hospice

1. Are you Medicare-approved, and do you serve where my parent lives?
2. How soon can you do an admission visit, including on a weekend?
3. How often will a nurse visit? An aide? A social worker or chaplain?
4. When we call at night, does a nurse answer, and how soon can someone come out?
5. Do you provide continuous home care during a crisis? How often have you done it this year?
6. Where do your patients go for general inpatient care?
7. Which facilities do you use for respite stays, and how far are they from us?
8. Which drugs, equipment and supplies will you provide, and which won't you?
9. Will my parent's own doctor stay involved?
10. What will we pay? Ask for the list of items you've decided are unrelated to the terminal illness.
11. Do you work with my parent's assisted living or nursing home now?
12. What support do you give the family after a death?

## Check the hospice's record

Medicare's Care Compare lists Medicare-approved hospices with quality measures and family survey results. Read two or three side by side. A hospice cannot be compared fairly on one number, so look at the family ratings for getting help quickly and for communication.

## Your parent's rights

- Your parent can change hospice providers once during each benefit period.
- Your parent can stop hospice at any time.
- If the hospice says your parent no longer qualifies and you disagree, ask for the notice explaining the right to a fast review.

## Questions families ask

### Can we choose any hospice?

Yes, any Medicare-approved hospice that serves your parent's area. In a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare's booklet says the plan must help you find a Medicare-approved hospice.

### Can we switch hospices?

Yes, once during each benefit period.

### Should the hospice give us a list of what it won't cover?

You can ask for it. Medicare says the hospice must give the list of items, services and drugs it has decided are unrelated to the terminal illness, with the reasons, within 3 to 5 days of your request.

### Where can I see hospice ratings?

On Medicare's Care Compare, which shows Medicare-approved hospices with quality measures and family caregiver survey results.

## Sources

- [Medicare Hospice Benefits (official booklet 02154)](https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02154-medicare-hospice-benefits.pdf)
- [Medicare.gov: Hospice care coverage](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care)
- [CMS: Hospice (benefit, levels of care, coinsurance)](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-for-service-providers/hospice)
- [Medicare.gov Care Compare: nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice and more](https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/)

## Read next

- [Questions to ask](https://seniorchoicecare.com/questions-to-ask/)
- [Levels of hospice care](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/levels-of-hospice-care/)
- [Check a provider](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/)
- [When to call hospice](https://seniorchoicecare.com/hospice-and-palliative/when-to-call-hospice/)
- [Assisted living contract questions](https://seniorchoicecare.com/questions-to-ask/assisted-living-contract/)
- [Dementia doctor questions](https://seniorchoicecare.com/questions-to-ask/doctor-about-dementia/)
- [Home health questions](https://seniorchoicecare.com/questions-to-ask/home-health-agency/)
- [Nursing home questions](https://seniorchoicecare.com/questions-to-ask/nursing-home/)

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