It’s 2:00 am in the morning…
Mark’s aging mother woke up with a cold sweat on the back of her neck… Unable to breathe…
He frantically tried calling the doctors, but no one was answering the call…
He tried reaching out to his relatives… Again no answer…
Annoyed, he started thinking, “There should be a better solution to this.”
Despite being inexperienced, he started trying to deal with the situation on his own. He was able to make her feel a little better and get her comfortable and relaxed.
An hour later, he and his mother were both able to get back to sleep.
Suddenly at 6:00 am Mark wakes up in a cold sweat with this unexplained fear gripping his mind…
What will my mother do if she needs an emergency medical service and I am not around? I was unable to get through to the doctor and the relatives. Should I talk to her about choosing hospice? But which is the best hospice care provider? How much does hospice cost? What’s included in hospice care? Who is eligible for hospice care?
Imagine yourself in this scenario. What would you do if your aging loved ones need immediate medical attention but you are not able to get through to the doctor? It is really difficult to see your loved ones in pain as you try to figure out the next step.
If you have had aging loved ones recently diagnosed with advanced medical illness and aggressive medical treatment is just making it difficult for them to cope, it may be the time to consider Hospice. Did a doctor suggest hospice care to your loved ones? Do you have questions regarding hospice care just like Mark?
The information below will provide you with insights to the many questions you may have regarding Hospice care and more…or if you would like to speak with a Nurse directly, call (385) 247-2020
What is Hospice Care?
There’s a misconception among people that hospice care is only for those individuals who have just a few weeks to live. This is the reason why some people choose to delay entering hospice care until just a few days before they die.
Another reason why people refuse to take advantage of the comprehensive services, as suggested by a recent study published in the journal Health Affairs, is the restrictive enrollment policies that may discourage patients from signing up.
Hospice care refers to the pain management treatment received by the patient from expert doctors, experienced nurses, spiritual leaders, and trained volunteers. However, when a patient enters hospice, he no longer receives treatment to cure his condition, rather doctors aim at providing relief from the symptoms.
We never expect the death of our loved ones but it is an inevitable part of aging. If your loved ones have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and they want nothing other than being comfortable in the last days of life while allowing nature to take its course, hospice care is the right way to go.
Hospice is not just for the patient but for the family too. Apart from providing end-of-life care, pain relief management, and therapies, hospice care professionals also offer spiritual care, counseling, and bereavement support to the family members.
Given the level of support and care you receive from hospice professionals, you may think that hospice care is EXPENSIVE and out of your reach financially. But there is virtually NO out-of-the-pocket cost involved in hospice care in the hospital.
Having someone available 24/7 can immediately lift up the anxiety and make you sure of your decision. People often make a plan to live well through hospice. Have you made the decision yet?
How Much Does Hospice Cost?
People researching hospice care in the hospital often have a question, “How Much Will Hospice Care Cost?”
It is often difficult for people to discuss end-of-life options with their loved ones. Therefore, when the actual need arises, they are not sure of the answers. While the cost of hospice care should not be your focal point when you are looking forward to making your loved one comfortable during the end-of-his-life, hospice care cost varies depending on the time and the quality of care your loved one needs.
But there’s some GOOD news!
The cost of hospice care is often covered by Medicare and other major health insurance. So whether you have Medicare, Medicaid, or any other private insurance, hospice hospital will work with the insurance company to make sure the services are paid for.
- Medicare Benefits for Hospice Patients
A majority of the hospice patient receive their health insurance through the government’s Medicare program. A patient who is terminally ill and have six months or less to live, receives complete coverage of hospice services from Medicare.The last thing you want to deal with after the death of your loved ones is the endless amount of bills coming in from the hospice care provider. Hospice care services are designed in a manner to not have any out-of-the-pocket cost for the patient or his family. Medicare often ends up paying up for a majority of hospice care services, which can sometimes run into $10,000 a month, depending on the type of care required by the patient.According to a report by The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, it was stated that Medicare paid hospice providers a total of $16.9 billion dollars for care. On average Medicare spends $11,820.00 per patient on hospice care. - Other Coverage Options To Consider
If you do not have Medicare, you can receive hospice care coverage through Medicaid or a private health insurance provider. Medicaid is a government health insurance program for low-income households and it covers hospice care in most of the American states.Similar to Medicare, Medicaid also requires the patient to decline curative treatment while receiving hospice.Patients can also choose to pay for hospice care through private health insurance companies. However, before opting for private insurance, make sure you understand what is covered by the company and which services are required to be paid by you.
Did you know?
With earlier referral to a hospice, patients may receive care that results in better management of symptoms, leading to the stabilization of their condition and prolonged survival. Hospice care is focused on helping patients and their families have a better quality of life by preventing and relieving troubling symptoms and side effects of serious illness.
The sooner a patient chooses hospice care, the more effective the services are in reducing physical, emotional, and financial worries while improving quality of life. The patient’s and family’s quality of life can be greatly enhanced by early intervention.
But What If I Don’t Have Insurance?
Inspiration Hospice have been helping patients and families receive care and services when they need them the most.
At Inspiration Hospice, our staff works with the patient and his family to make sure all the insurance information is considered correctly. We will help you determine your eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance benefits.
We want to make sure no one ends their journey called life alone, sad, and in pain. If Medicare or other insurance plans do not provide you a cover for hospice cost, we can often help. We are here to help you understand your end-of-life treatment options and goals.
All Hospice Care Is Not the Same
When choosing a hospice care treatment facility, it is imperative to understand that not all facilities are created equally. Different facilities provide different services. Hospice care is focused on helping patients and their families have a better quality of life by preventing and relieving troubling symptoms and side effects of serious illness.
Therefore, when picking up a particular hospice facility, make sure it meets your needs. What matters the most is to find a facility that will work with you and your loved ones to ensure their last days are as comfortable and pain-free as possible.
At Inspiration Hospice, we believe that nothing is more important than delivering compassionate and loving care to our patients and families. Our experienced staff works hard to balance excellent patient care while keeping it affordable.
At Inspiration Hospice Nobody Dies Alone!
Our inspired team of nurses, counselors, chaplains, aides, and volunteers stay with our patients at the bedside from 8:00 at night until 8:00 in the morning. This allows family members to have peace of mind knowing we are there to help. We offer this service when any of our patients start showing signs of the actively dying process, usually within the last 24 to 48 hours of life.
Moreover, Inspiration Hospice services are always free, and we are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. While hospice care is always 100% covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances, at Inspiration Hospice we always cover any medical supplies, medications, and medical equipment related to the patients’ hospice diagnosis.