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How Much Does Hospice Care at Home Cost?

6 minute readLast updated June 18, 2025
Written by Susanna Guzman
fact checkedby
Leah Hallstrom
Reviewed by Denise Lettau, J.D., wealth management specialistAttorney Denise Lettau has over 15 years of experience in the wealth management industry.
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Hospice care at home may cost as much as $1,600 per day, depending on the level of care provided and whether care is provided round-the-clock. For people who have Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance, most or all home hospice charges will be covered by insurance. Seniors who wish to receive end-of-life care in the comfort of their own home often choose hospice care at home for its convenience. With the help of a designated care team, they can receive assistance in a comfortable, familiar setting.

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Key Takeaways

  1. Hospice care at home may cost as much as $1,600 per day for round-the-clock care.
  2. Hospice care at home that isn’t continuous costs about $225 per day for the first 60 days, after which the cost goes down slightly.
  3. Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits cover the cost of hospice at home, while private insurance may pay only a portion of the cost.
  4. Many home care agencies provide hospice care at home, but not all do this.

What’s included in the cost of home hospice care?

Charges for home hospice care generally include all medications, medical equipment, and pain management needs, as well as many medical supplies, grief counseling, and spiritual assistance.[01]

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Will insurance pay for home hospice care?

Yes, most types of insurance cover all or most home hospice care costs, which means your loved one is unlikely to pay a large amount out of pocket. However, while insurance plans like Medicare and Medicaid cover the costs of hospice care at home, they may not work with all providers. For example, certain religious hospice providers may not be covered by federally-funded insurance programs. Before selecting a hospice care provider, check with your loved one’s insurance to ensure their choice is covered.

Medicare and Medicaid

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services establish the rates that Medicare and Medicaid will pay for medical care, including hospice services. In 2025, Medicare and Medicaid will pay about:[03]

  • $225 per day for the first 60 days of non-continuous home hospice care. After 60 days, they’ll pay $172.57 for each additional day.
  • $65 per hour for continuous home hospice care (24/7 care), which equals about $1,600 for a 24-hour period.

Qualifying seniors who have Medicare Part A typically don’t pay anything out of pocket for hospice care. To receive coverage, your loved one must meet Medicare’s requirements: They must have a terminal diagnosis from a doctor with a life expectancy of six or fewer months, and they must cease any curative treatments.

Depending on your loved one’s hospice provider, they may have a copay of up to $5 per prescription drug that isn’t fully covered by Medicare.[02]

VA health care

Veterans benefits typically cover home hospice costs for eligible veterans and their spouses.[04] However, your loved one may have to choose a VA-approved hospice provider or meet additional qualifications.

Private health insurance

If your loved one has an employer-funded or private market insurance policy, some costs of hospice care at home may be covered. However, details and coverage vary by provider and plan. If you plan on funding hospice with private insurance, contact your relative’s insurer or agent to find out the specifics of their coverage.

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How do people who don’t have insurance pay for hospice at home?

Many hospice providers are operated or funded by not-for-profit organizations and offer services at reduced rates or at no cost to qualifying patients.[05]

Finding a home care agency that provides hospice care

A routine hospice team can help families immeasurably with many aspects of end-of-life care, including additional support with everyday tasks. An in-home care aide can offer assistance with meal preparation and other daily tasks — like dressing and bathing — while you work, complete errands, or take a necessary moment for self-care. With a home care aide, you can focus more on spending quality time with your loved one, knowing their care needs have been met.

If you think home care may help your family during this difficult time, reach out to one of A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors. They can guide you through the process of understanding the cost of senior care and finding local agencies, all at no cost to your family.

Families also ask

Yes, hospice care that’s provided in someone’s home is generally less expensive than the same care provided in an inpatient facility.

Yes, as with other types of senior care, the cost of home hospice services varies depending on the overall cost of living in a particular area.

When the care provided in hospice is the same as what’s provided in palliative care, there isn’t a difference in the cost. What’s different between these two similar types of care is how much insurance will cover. While most insurance plans cover all or most of the cost of hospice care at home, that’s not always the case for palliative care.

SHARE THE ARTICLE

  1. Hospice Foundation of America. (2024, September 24). What is hospice?

  2. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Hospice care.

  3. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2024, September 11). Medicare claims processing.

  4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025, June 2). Hospice care.

  5. Hospice Foundation of America. (2024, September 24). How to pay for hospice.

Written by
Susanna Guzman
Susanna Guzman is a professional writer and content executive with 30 years of experience in medical publishing, digital strategy, nonprofit leadership, and health information technology. She has written for familydoctor.org, Mayo Clinic, March of Dimes, and Forbes Inc., and has advised Fortune 500 companies on their content strategy and operations. Susanna is committed to creating content that honors the covenant between patients and their providers.
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Leah Hallstrom is a former copywriter and editor at A Place for Mom, where she crafted articles on senior living topics like home health, memory care, and hospice services. Previously, she worked as a communications professional in academia. Leah holds bachelor’s degrees in communication studies and psychology from the University of Kansas.
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Attorney Denise Lettau has over 15 years of experience in the wealth management industry.
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