Hospice Basics
Common Myths About Hospice Care
Debunking common misconceptions about hospice care to help you make informed decisions.
Read guide →Clear comparison of hospice and palliative care, including when each is appropriate, how they differ in goals and services, and how to choose between them.
Written and reviewed by a board-certified hospice & palliative medicine physician
Last reviewed:
8 min read
Hospice and palliative care are often confused, but they're actually different types of care with different goals and eligibility requirements. Understanding the difference can help you make informed decisions about what type of care is right for your situation.
| Aspect | Palliative Care | Hospice Care |
|---|---|---|
| When It's Used | At any stage of serious illness | When life expectancy is 6 months or less |
| Treatment Goals | Can continue curative treatment | Focus on comfort, not cure |
| Where Provided | Hospital, clinic, or home | Primarily at home |
| Insurance Coverage | Regular insurance, may have copays | Medicare/Medicaid covers most costs; small copays may apply |
| Care Team | May be part of regular medical care | Dedicated interdisciplinary team |
| Duration | Can be long-term | End-of-life focused |
Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for people with serious illnesses. It can be provided at any stage of illness and can be given alongside curative treatment.
Example: Someone with cancer might receive palliative care to manage pain and nausea while still undergoing chemotherapy. The palliative care team helps with symptom management while the oncology team focuses on treating the cancer.
Hospice care is a type of palliative care specifically for people with terminal illnesses who have a life expectancy of 6 months or less. The focus shifts from curing the disease to ensuring comfort and quality of life.
Example: Someone with advanced cancer who has decided to stop chemotherapy and focus on comfort could transition to hospice care. Your hospice team manages symptoms, provides emotional support, and helps the family through the end-of-life process.
Many people transition from palliative care to hospice care as their illness progresses. Here's how it typically works:
When first diagnosed with a serious illness, you might receive palliative care to help manage symptoms while undergoing treatment. This can continue for months or years.
When treatment is no longer effective or you decide to focus on comfort, you can talk to your doctor about transitioning to hospice care.
Think of hospice as a type of palliative care specifically designed for end-of-life. All hospice care is palliative, but not all palliative care is hospice.
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Hospice Basics
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