The Medicare hospice benefit requires that you have an active Medicare Part A benefit (which is the program that pays for hospice care) which has been activated.  If you are a non-working spouse, you may be eligible to draw Medicare under your working spouses number.  For instance if you have always been a "stay-at-home Mom", but your husband worked, check with Medicare to see if you may have eligibility under his SSN number.  You must actually apply for this, it is not automatic.

There are many diagnoses that are covered by the hospice benefit.  Although most people think of hospice care in relation to terminal cancer, diseases such as heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, "stroke"/CVA, dementia, ALS, Parkinson's, AIDS/HIV,  and even just the general effects of advanced age (Adult Failure to Thrive or debility), may qualify as hospice appropriate conditions, if the physician feels that the condition, assuming it runs it's normal course, will result in death within six months. 

Although the initial hospice benefit normally starts at six months of coverage,  this time can be extended in 60 day increments as long as the person continues to meet the medical criteria. 

Advanced Directives

One the most important steps you can take to assure that your wishes, regarding the type of care you will receive if you can no longer speak for yourself, is to fill out some form of advance directive, so that your family and healthcare providers know what your wishes are regarding the level of care you want, under the various circumstances that may occur toward the end of your life.  We have the Five Wishes form, as well as printed versions of the Idaho-approved form, or you can have an attorney draw up a completely individualized form for you.  It doesn't matter so much what form you use, as long as there is something on file, and your caregivers know where it may be found.   Please don't put this off.  Everyone, regardless of age or health, should have one of these forms on file.