Covered Services
Palliative care offers relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. It may also helps you and your family have better input into medical care and receive emotional and spiritual support.
The first step is an initial consultation and evaluation. For Medicare patients, these consultations are a covered benefit. Many insurance plans also cover palliative care evaluations.
Other services include:
- A plan of care based on your needs and goals
- Helping you understand your disease, diagnosis and treatment options
- Pain and symptom management by the experts on your team
- Support to reduce the stress that may come with a serious illness
- Onging communication with your doctor
- Extra layer of support in partnership with your primary doctor.
- Palliative care may be provided in addition to home health services
- Care is provided in hospitals, nursing facilities, private homes or wherever you live.
Medicare Advantage Part C covers palliative care services. The Medicare Part B benefit offers some palliative care services, depending on the treatment. Remember that Medicare typically does not specify the term palliative care, but includes the benefits under the term hospice, even without a hospice diagnosis..
Most Medicare Advantage plans also cover home health care items, including bathroom grab bars, in-home support, meal delivery an other services not covered by Medicare Part A or Part B.
Get specific details at: Medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care