Questions people ask
Does Medicare pay 100% of hospice care?
Nearly, for the hospice care itself. Medicare covers hospice care related to the terminal illness. Under Medicare, most people pay nothing for hospice care itself. There can be a copay of up to $5 per prescription for symptom medicines and 5% of the Medicare amount for inpatient respite care. Medicare does not pay room and board where you live.
Reviewed by our medical director, October 12, 2026
On this page (5 sections)
Where the numbers come from
Hospice is a bundled benefit. Medicare pays the hospice a set daily rate, and from that rate the hospice provides the team's visits, medicines for the terminal illness, and the equipment and supplies in the plan of care. Families are not billed that rate, and there is no deductible for hospice care under Medicare.
The two small cost shares are in 42 CFR 418.400: up to $5 per prescription for outpatient symptom medicines, and 5% of the Medicare amount for each day of inpatient respite care. We tell you the respite amount before a stay.
What Medicare hospice pays and what you may pay
| Item | What Medicare pays | What you may pay |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing visits, the hospice doctor, aides, social work, spiritual care | In full, as part of the daily rate | Nothing |
| Medicines for pain and symptom control | As part of the daily rate | Up to $5 per prescription |
| Inpatient respite care, up to 5 days at a time | 95% of the Medicare amount | 5% of the Medicare amount for each respite day |
| Room and board where you live | Not covered | The resident or family, long-term care insurance, or Medi-Cal for eligible nursing facility residents |
General information, not a benefits determination. We check your benefits and tell you your costs before care starts.
What this means for your family
The costs that surprise families are not hospice costs. They are room and board where the person lives, and hired caregivers, because hospice does not provide a caregiver in the home all day. Ask about both early.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, once hospice is elected it is paid by Original Medicare, not by the plan. You can keep the plan for its extra benefits and for care unrelated to the terminal illness. You do not need the plan's permission to choose a Medicare-certified hospice.
Medi-Cal covers hospice too. For people with both Medicare and Medi-Cal, Medicare pays for hospice first, and Medi-Cal may cover nursing facility room and board for eligible residents. See Medi-Cal and hospice.
Related questions
Is there a deductible for hospice under Medicare?
No. There is no deductible for hospice care under Medicare, and no bill per visit. Conditions unrelated to the terminal illness keep the usual deductibles and coinsurance.
Does Medicare pay for a nursing home while someone is on hospice?
No. The hospice benefit does not pay room and board in a nursing facility, assisted living or board-and-care home. Medi-Cal may cover nursing facility room and board for eligible residents. Hospice care itself is still covered there.
What if the person has no coverage at all?
Call before deciding it is out of reach. Many people with a terminal illness and limited income can get Medi-Cal, and our social worker can help start an application.
Read more
The fuller pages: paying for care and Medi-Cal and hospice.
About this page
- Written by
- Beta Hospice care team
- Clinically reviewed by
- our medical director
- Last reviewed
- October 12, 2026
- Next review
- April 12, 2027
How we write and review this site
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Hospice care coverage (opens in a new tab)
- 42 CFR 418.400: Individual liability for coinsurance for hospice care (opens in a new tab)
- California DHCS: Hospice care (opens in a new tab)
These sources support the general information on this page. For one personās care and coverage, talk with the hospice team.
You do not have to decide alone.
Call (844) 646-4434 any time, or leave your number and someone from Beta's hospice team will call you. No decision is needed to call. Most families start with a question.
Only a hospice doctor, together with the personās own doctor, can confirm hospice eligibility. A website cannot.
- A nurse answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- You can stop hospice at any time
- You have the right to choose your hospice