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Does TRICARE cover hospice care?
Verified by TRICARE.com Editorial Team
Updated 2024-12-01
AI-assisted (gemini, gpt-4o)
Quick Answer
TRICARE covers hospice care for terminally ill beneficiaries including nursing, medication, equipment, respite care, and bereavement support at no cost.
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Key Takeaways
- Terminal diagnosis required
- Comfort care focus
- Family support included
- Generally no cost
Detailed Answer
TRICARE provides comprehensive hospice coverage:
Who Qualifies
- Terminal illness diagnosis
- Life expectancy of 6 months or less
- Patient elects hospice benefit
- Agree to comfort care focus
What's Covered
- Pain and symptom management
- Nursing care
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Medications for terminal illness
- Physical, occupational, speech therapy
- Social services and counseling
- Respite care (short-term relief for family)
- Bereavement support
Care Settings
- Patient's home
- Hospice facilities
- Nursing homes
- Hospital (inpatient respite)
Cost
- Generally no cost for hospice services
- Related to terminal condition
- Prescription drugs for comfort
Important Notes
- Patient forgoes curative treatment
- Can revoke hospice and resume treatment
- 24/7 support available
- Family included in care plan
Helpful Tips
- Discuss options with physician
- Understand what hospice means
- Involve family in decisions
Related TRICARE Terms
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