Concordia Lutheran Ministries Educates Families on Paying for Hospice Care

November 10, 2015 - When someone you're close to is in need of hospice care, the last thing you want to worry about is handling the costs. Let the caregivers at Concordia Lutheran Ministries and Good Samaritan Hospice help you navigate how to pay for your loved one's hospice care services.

The truth is that hospice care is available to every family, regardless of their income or financial situation. In fact, there are several programs in place that can help your family minimize the cost of hospice care services. Whether through government sponsored programs or community care programs, paying for your loved one's hospice care is possible.

The Medicare Hospice Benefit is an insurance benefit available to those who meet the hospice criteria. If your loved one is enrolled in Medicare Part A, they may be eligible for benefits that can cover supplies, medications and equipment used for in-home or inpatient hospice care. Make sure to collect proper medical certifications at the end of each 60-day care period to ensure your loved one's needs are covered.

If you are not enrolled in Medicare Part A, Medicaid and several private insurance plans provide at least partial coverage of the cost of hospice care services. Make sure to meet with your loved one's insurance provider to find out the full details of their plan, and meet with your preferred hospice provider to go over what is and is not covered.

If your private insurance program doesn't quite cover all the costs of the hospice care your loved one needs, charitable care programs may be able to help you pick up the slack. These programs exist in nearly every community, so meet with a community educator at the hospice organization to determine what program best fits for your situation.

Furthermore, many non-profit senior care service centers provide plenty of payment options to help minimize the upfront costs associated with hospice care. Take some time to explain any financial hardships to your hospice care provider and see if they are willing to assist your family in this time of need.

If your loved one qualifies for hospice care, take some time to review all of the payment options available to your family. Then check out the latest video from Concordia Lutheran Ministries and Good Samaritan Hospice by visiting http://www.concordialm.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-paying-for-hospice-care-video.

For over 130 years, Concordia Lutheran Ministries has made caring for those in their community a top priority. No matter what hardships your family may be facing, you can count on the caregivers at Concordia to go above and beyond to help make a difference in the everyday life of your loved one. Learn more about how Concordia can help those closest to you receive the care they deserve by visiting www.concordialm.org.