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Does TRICARE cover hospice care?
Verified by TRICARE.com Editorial Team
Updated 2024-12-01
AI-assisted (gemini)
Quick Answer
TRICARE covers hospice care for terminally ill beneficiaries with a life expectancy of six months or less, including comfort care and family support.
Key Takeaways
- For terminal illness (6 months or less)
- Comfort care focus
- Family support included
- Most services no cost share
Detailed Answer
Hospice provides comfort care for terminally ill beneficiaries.
Eligibility
- Terminal illness diagnosis
- Life expectancy of 6 months or less
- Elect hospice benefit
- Waive curative treatment
Covered Services
- Nursing care
- Physician services
- Pain management
- Medication for comfort
- Medical equipment
- Counseling for patient and family
- Respite care
- Spiritual support
Where Care is Provided
- Home
- Hospice facility
- Nursing home
- Hospital (inpatient hospice)
Costs
- Most hospice services no cost share
- Some medications may have copay
- Respite care has cost share
How to Elect
- Doctor certifies terminal illness
- Choose hospice provider
- Sign election form
- Can revoke and re-elect
Related Questions
What services does TRICARE cover?
TRICARE covers preventive care, doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, mental health, maternity, prescriptions, and more with some requiring authorization.
Does TRICARE cover home health care?
TRICARE covers skilled home health care including nursing, therapy, and aide services when medically necessary and authorized.