Money should be the last thing on your mind when someone you love is dying, and for most families on Medicare, hospice care itself costs very little. Still, there are a handful of costs that can show up, and it is easier to plan for them now than to discover them in a bill.
What Medicare covers at no cost
If your loved one has Medicare Part A and chooses a Medicare-approved hospice, they pay nothing for hospice care. That includes visits from the hospice nurse, aide, social worker and chaplain, the hospice doctor, medical equipment like a hospital bed, supplies, and grief support for the family.
The costs that can come up (2026)
| Cost | What you may pay |
|---|---|
| Prescription drugs for pain and symptoms | Up to $5 per prescription |
| Inpatient respite care | 5% of the Medicare-approved amount, capped at the Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026) |
| Care for health problems unrelated to the terminal illness | The usual Medicare deductibles and coinsurance, such as the $283 Part B deductible and 20% coinsurance in 2026 |
| Room and board at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home | Not covered by hospice; paid as before |
| Treatment meant to cure the terminal illness | Not covered while on hospice |
| Care from providers the hospice did not arrange, for the terminal illness | Not covered |
| Private caregivers for extra hours | Paid privately |
A closer look at the bigger ones
Extra hands at home
Hospice brings visits, not round-the-clock staff. Outside of a crisis, when the hospice may provide continuous care at home for short periods, family members provide most of the hands-on care between visits. Families who cannot cover every hour sometimes hire private caregivers, and that cost is theirs.
Respite stays
Respite lets a worn-out caregiver rest while the patient stays in a Medicare-approved facility for up to five days at a time. Medicare pays most of it; you may owe 5% of the approved amount, never more than the inpatient deductible.
The emergency room
If your loved one goes to the hospital for a problem related to the terminal illness without the hospice arranging it, Medicare may not pay. Call the hospice’s 24-hour line first, every time. They can often handle the problem at home or arrange the right care so it stays covered.
Medicare Advantage and hospice
If your loved one has a Medicare Advantage plan, hospice is handled differently than most of their care. Original Medicare, not the plan, pays for hospice services related to the terminal illness, even though they stay enrolled in the plan. The plan still covers care unrelated to the terminal illness, and they can choose whether to use the plan or Original Medicare for that care. Keep paying any plan premium so that coverage continues.
Medigap, Medicaid, VA and TRICARE
- Medigap policies may help with the small hospice coinsurance amounts and the cost-sharing for unrelated care, depending on the plan letter.
- Medicaid may cover hospice and, for nursing home residents, room and board. See hospice room and board.
- VA hospice has no copay for enrolled veterans who qualify, whether the care comes from the VA or a hospice under VA contract.
- TRICARE For Life: Medicare pays the full cost of covered hospice, so beneficiaries owe $0 for those services.
Questions to ask a hospice about cost
- Are you Medicare-approved, and do you serve our address?
- Which of my loved one’s current medications will you cover, and which will stay with their Part D plan?
- Where do your inpatient and respite stays happen, and what will we owe for respite?
- Will you give us a list, in writing, of anything you will not cover?
A good hospice will answer these plainly. If the answers are vague, ask again or call another provider.
Without insurance
Without Medicare, Medicaid, VA or private coverage, a family would pay the hospice’s rate directly. Rates vary by provider and level of care, so ask several hospices for their private-pay rates, whether they offer a sliding scale, and whether they accept charity cases. Many people who think they lack coverage turn out to qualify for Medicare or Medicaid; a hospice social worker can help check.
What to do next
- Ask the hospice for a written list of what it covers and what it does not.
- Put the hospice’s 24-hour phone number on the refrigerator and in every phone.
- Decide as a family who will cover which hours of care, and where you may need paid help.
- Learn what to expect from hospice at home.
Common questions
How much does hospice cost with Medicare?
Hospice care is $0 with a Medicare-approved hospice. You may pay up to $5 per prescription for comfort medications and 5% of the approved amount for inpatient respite care.
Does Medicare Advantage cover hospice?
Original Medicare pays for hospice even if your loved one is in a Medicare Advantage plan. The plan keeps covering care unrelated to the terminal illness.
Do you pay for hospice medications?
For drugs that manage pain and symptoms of the terminal illness, the copay is up to $5 per prescription. Drugs meant to cure the illness are not covered under hospice.
Does hospice pay for a nursing home?
No. Hospice covers the hospice care, not nursing home room and board. Medicaid may cover the room for residents who qualify.
Have questions about hospice and what it will cost your family? We are glad to talk it through, free. Tell us about your loved one or call 801-859-7000.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Hospice care
- Medicare Hospice Benefits booklet (March 2026)
- CMS: 2026 Medicare deductible, coinsurance and premium rates (MM14279)
- VA: Hospice care
- TRICARE For Life Cost Matrix 2026
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Coverage rules change; confirm details with the program or your plan.
