The eligibility requirements for the Medicare Hospice benefit are as follows:

• The patient must be eligible for Medicare Part A (the hospitalization benefit)
• The patient must have a life-limiting illness, with a prognosis of months rather than years. The patient’s physician and Hospice Medical Director certify this.
• The patient or family (if the patient cannot do so) must give informed consent.

Care must be provided by a Medicare-certified Hospice program.

The Medicare benefit runs for two periods of 90 days each, followed by an unlimited number of 60-day periods. At the end of each period, the patient’s condition is reviewed. If the review determines that the patient’s condition is still considered to be terminal and the patient shows signs of functional decline, then the benefit is renewed for an additional period.

Most insurance companies have similar eligibility requirements, benefit periods and renewal processes.