Get Your Free Hospice and SSDI Information Guide

Understanding Hospice Care and How It Works

Hospice is a type of medical care focused on comfort rather than treating a disease. It is designed for people with serious illnesses who have decided not to pursue curative treatment. The goal of hospice is to help people live as well as possible during their final months or years of life. This care includes pain management, emotional support, and help with daily activities.

Hospice teams typically include doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, and volunteers. These professionals work together to address physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Hospice care can happen at home, in a hospital, in a nursing facility, or in a dedicated hospice center. Most hospice care—about 80 percent—occurs in people's homes.

According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, approximately 1.5 million people received hospice services in 2022. The average length of hospice care was about 17 days, though some people receive care for much longer. Hospice is not the same as nursing home care or assisted living. It is a specialized service focused on symptom management and quality of life.

Medicare covers hospice services for people 65 and older who meet certain conditions. Medicaid also covers hospice in most states. Private insurance may cover hospice as well. Hospice services can include medications, medical equipment, nursing visits, counseling, and bereavement support for family members for up to 13 months after death.

Practical takeaway: Learn what services hospice provides so you can understand what to expect. Hospice care includes far more than just medical attention—it addresses the whole person and family needs during a difficult time.

Medicare Coverage of Hospice Services

Medicare Part A covers most hospice services for people age 65 and older. To receive Medicare-covered hospice, a person must have a diagnosis suggesting a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease runs its natural course. A doctor and the hospice medical director must agree with this prognosis. This does not mean hospice ends at six months—if the person is still living, care may continue with periodic re-evaluation.

When someone chooses hospice through Medicare, they waive curative treatment for their terminal illness but keep coverage for other unrelated health conditions. For example, if someone is in hospice for advanced cancer, Medicare would still cover treatment for a broken arm or diabetes management.

Medicare-covered hospice services include:

• Nursing care provided by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse
• Physician services from the hospice medical director and other doctors
• Pain medication and symptom management drugs
• Medical equipment and supplies like oxygen, wheelchairs, and hospital beds
• Home health aide and homemaker services
• Counseling services including social work and spiritual care
• Short-term inpatient care for symptom control or respite care
• Bereavement support for family members

Medicare pays hospice providers a set daily rate. There are no copayments or deductibles for hospice services. Patients may have out-of-pocket costs only if they use non-covered services or choose a non-participating provider. In 2023, Medicare paid hospice providers between $191 and $323 per day depending on the level of care, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

To start Medicare hospice, the person or their family should speak with their doctor about hospice options. The doctor can provide a referral to a Medicare-certified hospice provider. The person must formally sign consent forms before hospice care begins. This process is different from applying for Medicare benefits—the person must already have Medicare Part A.

Practical takeaway: Understand that Medicare covers hospice without copayments or deductibles. Talk with your doctor if you think hospice may be right for you or a family member. Medicare provides substantial coverage for comfort-focused care at the end of life.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Explained

Social Security provides two separate programs that support people with disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These programs serve different groups of people and have different rules, even though both are administered by the Social Security Administration.

SSDI is for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes but can no longer work due to disability. To receive SSDI, a person must have a medical condition that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. They must also have accumulated enough work credits—which come from paying Social Security taxes over their working years. In 2024, the average SSDI benefit was about $1,542 per month. Some people who become disabled can also receive benefits for their spouses or children based on their work record.

SSI is a needs-based program for people with low income and limited resources who are age 65 or older, blind, or have a disability. Unlike SSDI, SSI does not require a work history. Instead, it looks at current income and resources. To receive SSI, a person's monthly income must be below a certain level and they can own only limited resources. In 2024, the maximum SSI payment was $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple.

Both programs use the same medical definition of disability: a physical or mental impairment that prevents substantial work activity. The Social Security Administration maintains a list of conditions that automatically meet this definition, though people with other conditions may also qualify. Medical evidence from doctors, hospitals, and mental health providers is required to document the disability.

A person can potentially receive both SSDI and SSI, though this is less common. Some people start with SSDI when they first become disabled, then later receive SSI if their SSDI benefit amount is very low.

Practical takeaway: Learn the difference between SSDI (work-based) and SSI (need-based) so you understand which program may be relevant to your situation. Both programs provide income support for people with disabilities, but they work differently and have different requirements.

How to Gather Information About SSDI and Hospice

Educational guides about SSDI and hospice can help you understand what information is available and what steps might be involved. These guides typically explain the basic requirements, what documentation you might need, and how these programs work. They do not make decisions about whether someone qualifies or provide the services themselves.

A good informational guide about SSDI usually covers topics like:

• How the Social Security Administration defines disability
• What work history or credits are needed for SSDI
• What income and resource limits apply to SSI
• What medical evidence is necessary to support a claim
• How the decision process works
• What to do if a claim is denied
• How benefits may change over time

Similarly, guides about hospice typically explain:

• When hospice may be considered as an option
• How to talk with doctors about hospice
• What different types of hospice services include
• How insurance covers hospice care
• What the hospice team does
• How to choose a hospice provider
• What family support is available

These guides are designed to be educational resources. They help you learn about programs and services so you can have informed conversations with doctors, social workers, family members, and other professionals who can provide personalized guidance. Reading through such information before contacting relevant agencies or healthcare providers can help you ask better questions and understand your options more clearly.

You can find this type of information from multiple sources, including official government websites, nonprofit organizations that focus on disability or end-of-life care, hospitals and hospice organizations, and aging services agencies. Many of these resources are offered at no cost to the public.

Practical takeaway: Gather information from multiple reliable sources to build your understanding of these complex programs. Educational guides are tools to help you prepare for conversations with professionals who