At The Denver Hospice, we understand that managing finances and a life-limiting illness or injury can be overwhelming. We want to make paying for hospice care as easy as possible and encourage you to call us with your financial questions. Contact us at 303-321-2828.
Payment Methods for Hospice Care
The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers the full cost of hospice care including a hospice team to help take care of you.
Medicare covers the following hospice services when related to a hospice diagnosis:
- Nursing care and Certified Nursing Assistant services
- Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs or walkers
- Medical supplies, such as bandages and catheters
- Medications to manage and control symptoms and relieve pain
- Assessments by physical and occupational therapists
- Social worker services
- Chaplain services
- Nutrition counseling
- Grief and loss counseling for patients and their families
To elect the Medicare Hospice Benefit, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A. If you elect to use the Medicare Hospice Benefit, you do not give up your other Medicare benefits. You can still use all appropriate Medicare Part A and Part B benefits for the treatment of health problems not related to your hospice diagnosis. When standard Medicare Part A and Part B benefits are used for conditions not related to your hospice care, you are responsible for Medicare’s deductible and coinsurance amounts.
The Denver Hospice offers three free grief and loss counseling sessions for family after a loss. After that, a sliding pay scale is used.
Medicare HMOs, such as Kaiser Permanente and Secure Horizons, cover hospice care. You do not have to relinquish other HMO coverage to receive hospice care.
Colorado Medicaid has a hospice benefit for patients who qualify for regular Medicaid benefits. Colorado Medicaid pays for the same hospice services as Medicare. In addition, room and board in a skilled care facility or assisted living community may be covered through Medicaid. This room and board benefit is not available through Medicare.
In most cases, private insurance plans provide a hospice benefit. Deductibles, co-pays and limits of coverage are set by your individual policy. The Denver Hospice admissions department will verify your eligibility for hospice care under your private insurance policy and advise you of any limits that may apply.
For those without health insurance coverage, The Denver Hospice offers self-pay. Payment arrangements are available through our administrative offices. A Patient Benefit Advisor will discuss your situation and work with you.
Inability to Pay
The Denver Hospice is an independent, community-based, not-for-profit healthcare provider. We offer hospice services to those that do not have the resources to pay or are not eligible for insurance. We are committed to providing care to those who can benefit from hospice care.
What is excluded from hospice care?
Hospice patients receive comfort care to help cope with their illness, not cure it. Comfort care includes medications for symptom control and pain relief, physical care, counseling and other hospice services. Hospice uses medications, equipment and supplies to make you feel as comfortable and pain-free as possible.
- Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, Medicare will not pay for treatment to cure an illness. Talk with your primary care doctor when considering potential treatment to cure an illness.
- Most insurance companies do not cover room and board when receiving hospice care in a nursing home, assisted living facility or in our Inpatient Care Center.