THE SHORT ANSWER

Yes. Medicare Part A covers hospice care, and you pay nothing for covered hospice services from a Medicare-approved hospice. The only costs are a copay of up to $5 per prescription for pain and symptom drugs, and 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient respite care. The big thing Medicare does not pay is room and board, so if you live in a nursing home or assisted living, that bill keeps coming. [1][2]

Who qualifies[1][2]

You need Medicare Part A, and all three of these must be true:

  • Your hospice doctor and your regular doctor (if you have one) certify you're terminally ill, with a life expectancy of 6 months or less.

  • You accept comfort care (palliative care) instead of treatment to cure the illness.

  • You sign a statement choosing hospice instead of other Medicare-covered treatment for the terminal illness and related conditions (the "Hospice Election Statement").

What it covers and what you pay in 2026[1][2][3]

Item What you pay
Hospice services from a Medicare-approved hospice (the care team, plan of care) $0
Outpatient drugs for pain and symptom control Up to $5 per prescription
Inpatient respite care (up to 5 days at a time, so a caregiver can rest) 5% of the Medicare-approved amount, capped at the Part A inpatient deductible ($1,736 in 2026)
Short-term inpatient care the hospice team arranges Covered
Room and board at home, in a nursing home, or in a hospice residence Not covered
Care for health problems unrelated to the terminal illness Covered by Original Medicare as usual, with normal deductibles and coinsurance

Respite care can be used more than once, but only on an occasional basis. [2]

What Medicare won't cover once hospice starts[1][2]

  • Treatment meant to cure the terminal illness or related conditions.

  • Drugs meant to cure the illness (as opposed to pain and symptom relief).

  • Hospice care from a provider your hospice team didn't set up.

  • Room and board.

  • ER visits, hospital stays, or ambulance rides related to the terminal illness, unless the hospice team arranges them. Call the hospice team first, or you could owe the whole bill.

You can ask your hospice for a written list of items, services and drugs it has decided aren't related to the terminal illness, with the reasons. It must give you the list within 3 to 5 days. [1]

How long Medicare pays[1][2]

There's no fixed end date. You get two 90-day benefit periods, then an unlimited number of 60-day periods. After the first 6 months, a hospice doctor or nurse practitioner has to see you face to face and recertify that you're still terminally ill. You can switch hospice providers once in each benefit period.

Stopping hospice[2]

You can stop hospice at any time, and you can go back later if you're still eligible. No one should ask you to sign a form to stop hospice before the actual date you want it to end. If you had Original Medicare, you go right back to it.

Medicare Advantage and hospice[2]

Original Medicare pays for hospice care related to your terminal illness even if you stay in your Medicare Advantage plan. Your plan can still cover care for problems that aren't related to the terminal illness.

The room-and-board gap, in plain terms

Hospice pays for the care team, not the bed. If your parent lives in a nursing home or assisted living, hospice can come to them there, but Medicare won't pick up the monthly room-and-board charge. [1][2] See what those charges run locally on our nursing home cost page and assisted living cost page, and how Medicare's 100-day nursing home rule works.

How to find a Medicare-approved hospice

Ask the doctor for names, then look the hospice up on Medicare.gov's Care Compare tool to confirm it's Medicare-approved before you sign anything. [1]

Questions families ask

Does Medicare pay 100% of hospice?

Almost. Covered hospice services cost $0. You may pay up to $5 per prescription for symptom drugs and 5% of the approved amount for inpatient respite care. [1]

Does Medicare pay for hospice in a nursing home?

It pays for the hospice care, not the room and board. You'd still owe the facility's daily rate unless another source covers it. [1][2]

How long will Medicare pay for hospice?

As long as you keep qualifying: two 90-day periods, then unlimited 60-day periods, with recertification. [1]

What is the respite care limit under hospice?

Up to 5 days at a time, on an occasional basis, and you pay 5% of the approved amount, no more than $1,736 in 2026. [2][3]

Can you leave hospice and come back?

Yes. You can stop at any time and go back later if you're eligible. [2]

Keep exploring

More support. More life at home.

Explore Homeward by Cardinal for help coordinating everyday support and the next steps for aging at home.

Explore Homeward

Homeward is a separate paid service. Scope, availability, and pricing are confirmed before enrollment. It does not replace medical care. How Cardinal is paid.

Sources & dates

  1. Medicare.gov, Hospice care coverage: www.medicare.gov
  2. CMS, "Medicare Hospice Benefits," Product No. 02154, March 2026: www.medicare.gov
  3. CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles ($1,736 Part A inpatient deductible): www.cms.gov

Reviewed against sources Oct 31, 2026. Not medical, legal or financial advice.

Sources checked 2026-10; page published 2026-11-03. General education only, not legal or financial advice.