Hospice Coverage and Payment Options

Patients and families can receive a wide variety of services. These services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. For those who qualify, Medicare Hospice Benefits covers most of the health care costs related to the terminal illness.

Hospice Coverage Frequently Asked Questions

If I select Medicare Hospice Benefits, do I continue seeing my own physician?
Yes. Your doctor continues to be your doctor. He or she approves the plan of care, and the hospice team works with your physician to provide that care. EveryStep's chief medical officer and hospice team physician offer extra support if needed.

If I choose to receive Medicare Hospice Benefits, can I stop hospice care and pursue curative treatment again? 
Yes. You are not "locked in." You can choose to stop coverage under Medicare Hospice Benefits at any time. If you do, routine care for your illness is covered by regular Medicare benefits as it was before your hospice care. There is no penalty. You can also re-enroll in the Medicare Hospice Benefits at any time as long as you are eligible.

How long can I receive hospice care? 
You can choose to receive hospice care for as long as you desire and your physician certifies that you are terminally ill.

If I don’t have Medicare, can I still receive care from EveryStep Hospice? 
Yes, we work with many types of insurance and also serve people who don’t have insurance. Your team social worker can help you review your financial coverage options, such as: 
1. Private insurance: Most private insurance companies offer coverage for hospice care. Our team will review your plan’s benefits with you.
2. Medicaid: For those who qualify, Medicaid is a health insurance program that helps pay for prescription medications, respite care costs and other hospice services related to the terminal illness.
3. EveryStep Foundation: If you don’t have any insurance, our team will work with you to understand your needs and help you enroll in a plan or apply for support through our Foundation. EveryStep Foundation assists families who are financially in need. Ask your social worker for more details.

You can find EveryStep Hospice programs based in Centerville, Creston, Des Moines, Mount Ayr, Mount Pleasant, Osceola, and Winterset. As a first step, fill out our quick Find Care form. An EveryStep Hospice team member will get back to you as soon as possible. If you have any questions, email us at info@everystep.org.