Medicare Hospice & Palliative Care Guide (2026): Election, Curative Care, and Medigap

Best for families choosing comfort-focused care for terminal illness or comparing palliative support while still pursuing treatment. Medicare hospice is a benefit election—not just a location—and it changes how other services are paid.

Hospice election basics

• Requires physician certification of terminal illness (6-month prognosis if disease runs normal course).
• Electing hospice means Medicare pays hospice for comfort care related to the terminal diagnosis.
• You may revoke hospice election to return to curative treatment—re-election is allowed.

Palliative vs hospice

• Palliative care can run alongside curative treatment for symptom management.
• Hospice focuses on comfort when curative treatment is no longer the goal.
• Part A hospice includes drugs, equipment, homemaker services, and respite stays.

Scenario: cancer patient continuing immunotherapy

A patient wants symptom management but continues chemo. Palliative consults may bill under Part B while active treatment continues—hospice election would typically end curative chemo coverage for the terminal diagnosis.

Scenario: late-stage COPD with frequent hospitalizations

Family elects hospice at home with oxygen and nursing visits. Medicare covers hospice team services; room and board in a facility only in specific respite or inpatient pain crisis settings.

Buying checklist

• Compare hospice agency quality scores and 24/7 nurse availability.
• Ask how drugs for terminal diagnosis are formulary-managed under hospice.
• Medigap may still pay cost-sharing on non-hospice Part B services—/guides/medicare-supplement-buying-guide-2026.
• SNF overlap rules: /claims/guides/medicare-skilled-nursing-coinsurance-claim-guide.

FAQ

Q: Does hospice mean giving up all medical care? A: No—comfort care for the terminal illness is intensive, but curative treatment for that illness stops while elected.

Q: Can I keep my doctor? A: Often your doctor can remain part of the team as attending physician if hospice agrees.

Q: Is hospice only at home? A: No—inpatient hospice facilities and nursing home hospice are possible depending on contracts.

Related guides

• Accelerated benefits while living: /claims/guides/life-accelerated-death-benefit-claim-guide
• Compare Medicare products: /insurance/medicare