Death is a certainty, and everyone will be touched by it sooner or later. According to the American Hospice Foundation, all Americans know what hospice is, and they will make it an explicit part of their long-term plans. It is important to understand what hospice is and who pays for it. Supplemental insurance plans can play an integral part of the hospice process.
Hospice
Hospice is geared toward end-of-life care for individuals who have between six and 12 months to live. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, hospice care focuses on caring, not curing. In most cases, care is provided in the patient's home. The hospice team consists of several medical professionals who have staff on call 24 hours per day. The goal is pain management and spiritual well-being of the patient. The health care team not only works with the ill patient, but it also helps grieving family members.
Hospice Insurance
The American Cancer Society states Medicare, Medicaid in some states, the Department of Veterans Affairs, most private insurance plans, HMOs and other managed-care organizations pay for hospice care. Medicare requires that the patient's life expectancy be less than six months to qualify for benefits. A doctor must continue to certify with Medicare for patients to continue to be eligible. Medicare will pay an unlimited number of days as long as the doctor continues to certify the benefits.
Supplemental Insurance
Supplemental insurance is used to help offset the costs associated with health care needs. The policy may be used to help pay deductibles, co-payments or however you see fit. The money is generally paid directly to the insured and is a predetermined amount, based on a schedule of benefits. This money is paid regardless of other insurance. Several types of supplemental insurance policies are available, such as cancer, accident and hospital indemnity.
Benefits
Supplemental insurance plans pay differently, depending on the type of policy. A cancer policy pays benefits for costs associated with cancer care. The cancer plan may pay a daily amount for chemotherapy and radiation treatments. An accident plan pays benefits associated with an accident. The accident plan may pay amounts for physical therapy and follow up treatments related to an accident. Each plan has an outline of coverage that states how the benefits will be paid.
Considerations
Several supplemental insurance plans provide benefits for hospice care. The payments from the supplemental plan are paid directly to the insured even if other insurance is paying for the hospice care. The money could be used for things such as keeping a loved one at home during a time of illness. Supplemental insurance plans were created to help families in a time of need. The plans can be beneficial to a family going through hospice care.
References
- National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: What is Hospice and Palliative Care?
- American Cancer Society: Who Pays for Hospice?
- AFLAC: What is Hospital Confinement Indemnity Insurance?
- AFLAC: What is Cancer/Specified-Disease Insurance?
- Colonial Life: Cancer Insurance (PDF)
- American Hospice Foundation: Debunking the Myths of Hospice
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