Respite Care Private Health Insurance – What you need to know
Whether a hospice program is home-based, provided in a nursing home or any freestanding facility; an insurance/coverage is quite critical especially when the person reaches the final phases of a devastating or terminal illness. The benefits of a respite and hospice cover cannot be overstated. The main purpose of hospice care is to guarantee a better and quality life while keeping the patient as comfortable as possible despite the current state of health. While the hospice facilities work on providing the best of social, emotional and spiritual needs; the patient may need around-the-clock care and attendance. This is very demanding and requires professional care to call it a success.
Here’s why you Should Shop Carefully for Respite Care Private Health Insurance
While many private insurance firms cover most of the hospice services, choosing the best insurance company could be your best bet. If you are looking for a respite care private health insurance that will stand with you and your family through the entire hospice-care period; we’ve got you covered. Read on to get started.
The hospice team could include some health professionals such as doctors, psychotherapists, and nurses; however, their focus will mainly be to offer palliative treatment rather than curative treatment. Here, the health professionals will work on controlling symptoms and managing pain while maximizing the quality of life; each day at a time. Hospice services have been designed to meet and satisfy the needs of all patients with life-limiting illness. The insurance company should also be willing to pay for the covered benefits for any health problem not related to the hospice diagnosis. If the beneficiary doesn’t meet the eligibility requirements for the respite or choose to revoke the respite/ hospice benefits; the standard Medicare benefits can be restored.
With a hospice insurance plan, no patient should be denied respite care due to their financial status. The beneficiary can also choose to stop the hospice care or shift to curative treatments at his/her convenient time.
Hospice care duration
While most hospice care services are intended for patients with less than six months to live; one can still qualify for hospice care for a longer period of time provided the eligibility requirements are met. This will need certification of a medical doctor at the beginning of each benefit period. Most hospice care services run for 60 to 90 days after which the period may or may not be consecutive. The service could also be terminated at any time and the standard Medicare benefits could be restored. This happens if the health conditions improve or the illness goes into remission.
Hospice coverage
All the medically necessary services are covered and any other relevant supplies that’ll help improve the patient’s terminal condition are considered. These include;
- Physician services, home health & hospice services, medical equipment & supplies, physical & occupational therapy, nutritional counseling, nursing care and homemaker services.
- Prescription medications (symptom management & pain) and speech-language pathology services.
- Respite care for caregivers and grief counseling for the family and patient.
Hospice coverage has a limit beyond which the patients will have to pay on their own. These include the cost of medications meant to cure the illness. The coverage won’t be valid for any care not set up by an approved hospice program. The housing will also be covered by the patient for the case of hospice facility or nursing home services. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with a terminal illness; looking for a respite care private health insurance with a good plan is worth the investment.