Patients eligible for the Medicare hospice benefit receive hospice services, drugs, medical equipment and supplies, and respite care.

Most health insurance policies now include hospice benefits.

Care is provided based on need, regardless of the patient's insurance or ability to pay.

How much will I pay for hospice care?

As one of the few non-profit hospice programs in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, Hospice of Oklahoma County believes that dealing with end of life in a dignified and comfortable manner should be available to everyone, regardless of his or her financial situation.

Hospice care is covered under Medicare Part A. There is currently no Medicaid Hospice benefit in Oklahoma. If the patient has Medicare A or certain categories of Medicaid coverage, they may be eligible. A hospice staff person will help you determine eligibility. If the Medicare hospice benefit is elected the following will be covered as long as these items or services are:

• Related to the hospice illness
• Authorized by the hospice provider as palliative care and part of the plan of care
• Obtained through a contracting provider approved under the hospice program
• Intermittent home visits by the hospice staff
• Medications
• Supplies
• Medical equipment
• Short-term respite in a nursing home/hospital
• Lab tests related to the terminal illness
• Outpatient procedures to alleviate symptoms
• Hospitalizations for symptom management

If the patient has private insurance, we will verify whether they have hospice coverage and its scope. If the patient has two insurance policies, please inform your hospice team, so they can coordinate and maximize the coverage. We will bill you for the following items: co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. Payment plans are always available through the hospice business office.

Office visits to see your primary physician are covered under the Medicare hospice benefit. If the patient’s insurance is primary and includes a co-pay for the office visit, you are responsible to pay this fee.

If you access care without consulting your hospice team, neither Hospice nor Medicare/Medicaid will be responsible for the charges associated with the care the patient was given.

If the patient decides to change to a curative approach the Medicare hospice benefit will switch to their regular Medicare benefit. If the patient returns to a comfort-oriented mode of treatment, they can receive hospice care again.

At Hospice of Oklahoma County we have an obligation to bill all patients for the services we offer, regardless of the patient’s health care insurance coverage. Even if the patient has no health care insurance or is under-insured, a bill is sent out for hospice services.

If the patient has limited or no coverage for hospice services, hospice staff will complete a financial assessment to determine their potential eligibility for financial aid and/or charity care.

For more information on paying for hospice care, click here to visit the INTEGRIS Health Library.