Hospice is so under-rated and mis-understood! This article really shows it: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Hospic....html?x=0&.v=1

Many consumers and physicians believe you need to open up your own wallet to get hospice care in America. That’s one of the top fallacies about hospice according to a new national survey.

In reality, Medicare takes the financial strain off most patients and their family caregivers by paying 100 percent of the cost of many hospice services.

Most consumers (68%) and a surprising number of physicians (36%) were unaware of the hospice benefit. A number of physicians (21%) also said private health insurance is required by law to pay for hospice care.

“Although this coverage has been around for more than two decades, people are still in the dark about Medicare and hospice. It’s time to shed the light on a benefit that’s a godsend to many families,” said Perry Farmer, President of Crossroads Hospice, which commissioned the survey.

Another misconception: hospice is a support group for patients who have given up hope and are waiting to die. One third of consumers (36%) and nearly one third of physicians (31%) described that as the role of hospice.

“This is not just about end-of-life counseling,” says Farmer. “Hospice care helps the terminally ill live the remainder of their lives with comfort and confidence. Most patients qualify for the Medicare benefit for as long as they are certified as terminally ill by a doctor or hospice medical director.”

Physicians and consumers agree that patients should be receiving hospice care for at least 90 days with the majority of the general public (54%) and physicians (52%) identifying 6 months or longer as the appropriate length of time for service.

Porter Storey, MD, FAAHPM, executive vice president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, said he hopes the survey encourages doctors to ensure their patients are aware of the benefits of hospice care, and know that they are entitled to six months of Medicare coverage. “We’ve always known that patients start receiving hospice care late, missing out on months of symptom relief and the many ways hospice care can improve quality of life for them and their families. It’s good to see that patients and doctors do appreciate its value and want to talk about it,” he said.

The latest report on hospice care in the U.S. from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization shows that half of hospice patients received care for less than three weeks.

The Hospice Care study is a comprehensive survey of adults and physicians across America. Respondents included 700 consumers age 35 and older and 300 physicians: 200 specialists and 100 primary care physicians. All respondents had some familiarity with hospice.

The Medicare Hospice Benefit

The Medicare hospice benefit covers doctor visits, nursing care, medication, equipment, personal aides, certain physical and occupational therapists, and chaplaincy services. It also continues for the family after the patient passes away. The patient’s family is cared for through support services, such as grief recovery programs and chaplaincy services. Patients and their families can choose any Medicare-recognized hospice and more than 90 percent of hospices in the U.S. are certified by Medicare.

Crossroads Hospice is committed to being at the forefront of the hospice care industry, to continually shape the way end-of-life care is viewed and administered. The mission of Crossroads Hospice is to provide highly unique, comprehensive, and compassionate hospice services to persons experiencing a life-limiting illness and to their caregivers.