Hospice Care Insurance – What Family of Terminally Ill Patients Need to Know
As baby boomers are starting to retire, the need for hospice care insurance is only going to increase. For some people, the term hospice and hospice care insurance are foreign to them. If this sounds like you, then you will find this article very informative.
Hospice – What Type Of Care
While hospice care is still in the field of medical care, but it’s a subcategory on its own. For most people visiting a hospital or clinic, the main goal is to cure the current disease or illness. Hospice care is different as it’s a type of care that is not geared towards curing a disease. So, why would you want NOT to be cured?
Well, there plenty of reason for this. For one, some illnesses are considered as “terminal.” Technically, when the term “terminally ill” is used, the doctor estimates that the patient has only six months or less to live.
Since most medical professional has the goal of curing an illness, a terminally ill patient needs a different type of care, and that’s hospice care.
With hospice care, it’s meant to help the patient to mentally and physically prepare for the unavoidable conclusion.
Services It Includes
Since everyone is unique in its own way, what includes in a hospice care may also widely vary. However, hospice care will typically include:
- Nursing Care
- Doctor Service
- Medical Supplies
- Dietary Counseling
- Social Work Services
- Grief And Loss Counseling For The Patient And Family
- Physical Therapy
- Prescription Drug For Pain Relief Or Symptom Control
Who Needs It?
When it comes to patients that seek hospice care, there are two major categories.
The first category includes patients that are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
The second category includes patients that choose not to spend efforts on trying to cure the disease but choose to spend the limited time left for a comfortable, gratifying and satisfying time. This is especially true for patients with a disease that have a low survivability rate. In some situations, the probabilities are just too low that it’s better to maximize the time left by having a smooth sailing rather than being exhausted running around trying to cure the disease.
Hospice Care Insurance Coverage
Each insurance is different so going into specific details of hospice care insurance coverage is a bit tricky. Hence, let’s just cover the broad strokes.
Hospice care insurance coverage will usually cover any treatment just as long it’s for pain relief or symptom control
Hospice care insurance coverage will also cover prescription drugs that is for the purpose of easing pain or controlling the symptom. If the prescription drug is all about trying to cure the disease, then it won’t be covered by the hospice care insurance.
How To Get More Info
Just like other types of insurance, hospice care insurance has the tendency to be complicated. If you want more and better information, it’s best that you talk to a hospice care insurance agent. In fact, why not do it now as you can also get a free quote.