Hospice care is a special way of caring for a patient whose disease cannot be cured. It is available as a benefit under Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A). Medicare beneficiaries who choose hospice care receive non-curative medical and support services for their terminal illness.
To be eligible, they must be certified by a physician as terminally-ill with a life expectancy of six months or less. While they no longer receive treatment towards a cure, patients require close medical and supportive care which a hospice can provide. For more information about Medicare health plans or to receive a Medicare handbook, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). | 
