Will the VA Cover Hospice Care?

As part of any veteran’s return back home, the Department of Veteran Affairs (better known as the VA) provides a generous hospice care benefit to help elder veterans die with dignity.

As part of any veteran’s return back home, the Department of Veteran Affairs (better known as the VA) provides a generous hospice care benefit to help elder veterans die with dignity. Hospice care is included as part of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Standard Medical Benefits Package. The VHA is the nationwide system that offers health care to all veterans through medical clinics and specialized outpatient centers.

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With the VHA, hospice care is available to all enrolled veterans who meet the clinical qualifications for hospice services. In many cases, you will not be asked to provide a copay for hospice care as long as you choose a VA hospice provider or an organization with a VA contract.

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Who is Eligible for Hospice Care Covered by the VA?

All enrolled veterans are eligible for hospice care services as long as they meet the VA’s clinical qualifications for service. Any veterans receiving hospice care are also allowed to receive curative treatments, which is the opposite of many other programs. For example, a person with cancer can receive hospice care while still undergoing chemotherapy.

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Traditionally, other programs that pay for hospice care, like Medicare, do not allow you to seek curative treatment while receiving hospice care. In this sense, hospice care with the VA is more focused on palliative care, while allowing other doctors to work on addressing curative treatments for patients.

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Given the unique setup of hospice care provided by the VA, it’s expected that patients will have to meet different requirements, such as the following:

Being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness
Having treatment goals that are focused on comfort or palliative care
Having a life expectancy of six months or fewer as certified by a VA physician

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Veterans must also choose a VA hospice provider or a hospice provider contracted by the VA in order to receive hospice benefits.

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The VA covers palliative care too. Learn about the differences between palliative and hospice care so you can understand your options.

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What Does Hospice Care for Veterans Look LIke?

You can receive VA hospice care services in your home or in a facility like a nursing home. Like many other hospice teams, a VA hospice care team is made up of the following:

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Caregivers
Home health aides
Doctors
Hospice nurse
Social workers
Grief counselors
Specialists
Chaplains

Together, this team works behind the scenes to develop and carry out a care plan aimed at helping veterans to live as full a life as possible.

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Many families prefer in-home hospice care. Read more about in-home hospice care to learn why it might make sense for your ailing loved one.

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What Hospice Services Does the VA Cover?

The VA covers hospice services designed to relieve suffering and manage symptoms while honoring you and your loved one’s personal, cultural, and religious beliefs. In general, the VA will cover the services your hospice care team recommends to help meet your medical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs. Examples of common hospice services include pain management medication, spiritual counseling, nurse care, homemaker services, and therapy.

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Along with hospice care, the VA also provides bereavement support to veterans’ family members. Family members receive bereavement services for up to 13 months after the death of a loved one.

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Veterans Can Receive Dignified Hospice Care With the VA

As many veterans return and age in the U.S., the need for expanded hospice care grows by day. If you or your loved one are looking to see what the VA covers in terms of hospice care, consider reaching out to your regional office to learn more about their options. Doing research as soon as possible can go a long way in helping the veteran in your life.

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CTA: You’ve saved up for retirement to live your best life. But what about living your best while dying? Find out how your private insurance plan covers hospice care.

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