When we think about hospice services, we tend to picture elderly people receiving this type of care. But what happens if a younger person has been diagnosed with a terminal condition, and requires end-of-life care? Can they still receive hospice services? The answer is yes.
There is No Age Requirement for Hospice
Sometimes you will see people claim that a patient can only receive hospice care if they are age 65 or above. But this is not correct. A patient can be under 65 and still receive hospice care if they meet the other requirements. The reason many people believe that you must be 65 or above to qualify for hospice care is because they are conflating that with qualifying for Medicare. In most cases, you cannot qualify for Medicare if you are under 65, but there are exceptions for a few health conditions (i.e. ALS). If you qualify for Medicare, then Medicare pays for your hospice. But if you do not qualify for Medicare, you can pay for hospice using other means such as private insurance. Ask what payment options are available when you are choosing a hospice program.
What are the Requirements for Hospice?
If a patient meets these requirements, they should be eligible for hospice:
- Terminal diagnosis: A doctor must declare that a patient has a terminal condition in order to be eligible to receive hospice care.
- Six-month life expectancy: At the time that care commences, the doctor must state that the patient’s life expectancy is six months (if a patient outlives that timeframe, they may receive further hospice care).
- No longer attempting to cure the disease or extend life: Going forward, the patient has agreed that their team will focus on palliative care that improves quality of life, rather than on attempting to prolong life or cure the condition.
Learn How Journey Palliative and Hospice Can Help
Do you have more questions about whether you or your loved one is eligible for hospice, or who pays for hospice? The caring team at Journey Palliative and Hospice can answer your questions in detail, and explain how we can help in your specific scenario. Please call (818) 748-3427 to schedule your consultation. We can serve you with end-of-life care in Kern County, LA County, Ventura County or Orange County.
