What Are Hospice Care and Palliative Care?
Serious illnesses and injuries can leave us feeling debilitated and in need of long-term care for long periods of time. Sometimes, if the pain and recovery process is bad enough, we may also need palliative care.
Palliative care treats the physical or emotional pain of a condition rather than the condition itself. Its goal is to make recovery more comfortable.
Hospice care is similar, except it happens when we approach the end of life and focus on comfort instead of curative treatment. In 2020, Medicare estimated around 1.72 million hospice care beneficiaries, making it a widely utilized resource for those with terminal conditions.
In this article, we'll discuss what palliative and hospice care are, how they differ, and when your loved one may benefit from one. We'll also explore insurance options for hospice and palliative care and how you can find care near your loved one.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a non-curative type of care focused on pain relief and improving quality of life. Palliative care does not help cure the condition, but instead helps treat and manage pain symptoms. This care is intended for individuals, of any age, with severe discomfort or pain who could benefit from compassionate care and coordination in addition to their curative treatments.
A wide variety of healthcare professionals and caregivers work together to provide palliative care, including doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, social workers, home health aides, and nutritionists. Treatment tends to be holistic and may include many different techniques and options, all aimed at making life more bearable despite a serious illness or condition.
Palliative care can occur in many different settings, including long-term care facilities, outpatient care centers, or even at home. Each plan is different depending on what the individual needs. Some plans focus on pain symptoms, others focus on the condition's impacts on mental health, and others help the individual focus on ways to live life to the fullest despite their condition.
Regardless, palliative care is meant to be flexible and personalized. A palliative care team will work with the care recipient and their family to discuss several options and decide on the one that works best for everyone involved.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care follows a similar premise to palliative care; however, the main difference is hospice care is intended for those with a terminal illness, with six months or less to live. When an individual starts receiving hospice care, it's because their doctors and care team believe they are nearing the end of their life.
The decision to start hospice care is a personal one. Doctors recommend hospice when they believe treatment may only reduce the quality of life or that there is no realistic way to continue to cure, manage, or treat the condition. Hospice care aims to help patients feel as comfortable as possible during their last months or weeks of life surrounded by friends and family.
There are two sides to hospice care: physical care and emotional or spiritual care. Hospice programs incorporate spiritual care as part of their holistic approach, recognizing that addressing emotional and spiritual needs is as important as managing physical symptoms.
Hospice care teams often include chaplains or spiritual counselors who can provide support based on the individual's beliefs and preferences. These caregivers can introduce conversations about faith, help patients find meaning in their experiences, and offer rituals or prayers that align with their spiritual practices.
Spiritual support can significantly enhance the quality of life for patients in hospice, providing comfort and peace during a challenging time, especially when combined with palliative care efforts to manage physical symptoms.
Hospice caregivers also encourage family involvement in spiritual practices, allowing loved ones to share in meaningful rituals or discussions that honor the patient's beliefs. This shared experience can foster connections and support family members emotionally as they navigate their grief.
Individuals are encouraged to make the most of their time together, focusing more on sharing stories, memories, and moments rather than worrying about the health condition's impact on the situation.
What’s The Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care?
The main difference between palliative care and hospice care is the intended purpose.
Palliative care is intended to treat the pain symptoms of a condition in addition to curative treatments or care management. Individuals of all ages with serious discomfort are eligible for this care.
Hospice care, on the other hand, is for individuals who are nearing the end of their lives. Its purpose is to treat the symptoms of a condition, improve the quality of life for the care recipient, and help them feel comfortable and happy during their final moments.
A doctor must confirm that an individual has six months or less left to live in order to receive hospice care. When an individual starts hospice care, they stop receiving curative treatments.
How Much Does Hospice or Palliative Care Cost?
Hospice and palliative care costs will vary depending on your living area. In areas like California or Massachusetts, care will cost significantly more because of increased demand, higher wages, and higher cost of living. Care may also cost more in rural areas where there are limited resources or providers available.
The finalized cap amount for a full year of hospice care in 2025 is $34,465.34. This is a 2.9% increase from the 2024 hospice cap, which stood at $33,494.01.
You can use LTC News's Cost of Care Calculator to estimate the cost of care in your area. This tool allows you to see and compare the current costs of care in your area as well as the predicted future costs.
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Does Insurance Cover Palliative or Hospice Care?
Many insurance options cover hospice care; however, palliative care can fall into a gray area. Each insurance policy offers slightly different coverage, making insurance difficult to navigate without looking directly at your policy.
That being said, federal health insurance programs such as Medicaid and Medicare both cover hospice care and may cover palliative care.
Medicare is health insurance for individuals aged 65 and older and disabled individuals. Medicare Part A covers hospice care as long as you meet the requirements. Medicare Part B may cover palliative care and associated equipment costs. Medicare Part D will help with medications associated with hospice or palliative care.
Medicaid is a federal health insurance program for low-income individuals. Medicaid covers hospice and palliative care, but it may have limited coverage for some specific medications or treatments.
Some traditional health insurance providers offer coverage for hospice or palliative care; however, this may be an add-on feature. It's important to double-check with your insurance provider to determine if you'll be covered.
Long-Term Care Insurance provides more nuanced coverage. In general, Long-Term Care Insurance does not cover palliative care unless the insured individual has qualified for long-term care benefits and has a plan of care that includes palliative care services.
Hospice care is generally covered by Long-Term Care Insurance after an individual has exhausted their health insurance or Medicare coverage for hospice care. However, this doesn't happen often.
Every policy has different coverage and language. It's essential to work with a trusted Long-Term Care Insurance specialist or insurance expert to determine what your policy does and does not cover.
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Improving Quality of Life with Hospice Care and Palliative Care
Palliative care and hospice care are an essential care service for those suffering from serious discomfort as a result of a chronic health condition. Palliative care services can help individuals continue their lives and improve quality of life while receiving treatment.
On the other hand, hospice helps individuals facing dire circumstances enjoy and live as comfortably as possible as they approach the end of their life. Hospice care is empathetic and helps the affected individual reconnect with loved ones. This compassionate care allows individuals to share their life stories and philosophies so their legacy can live on with dignity.
If you need help finding hospice care or palliative care for your loved one, LTC News's Care Directory can help. Our care tool searches through tens of thousands of care providers and services across the United States.
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