Follow
Share

Palliative care

Medicare and VA cover different pieces, and eligible people can often use both.

Medicare pays for short-term skilled home health (nursing/therapy) when a doctor orders it and you meet Medicare’s rules. It generally does not pay for long-term custodial care like bathing, meals, or supervision. For palliative needs, Medicare Part A can cover hospice if you elect hospice and meet the criteria; other palliative services may fall under Part B depending on the setting.

VA benefits are separate. Eligible veterans may get VA in-home supports (including Homemaker/Home Health Aide in some cases) or Aid and Attendance if they meet wartime service and need/income rules. You usually cannot bill Medicare and VA for the same service.

Check medicare.gov for home health/hospice rules, and a county Veterans Service Officer or VA social worker for VA options. This is general public information only, not personalized advice.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to medicaretools
Report

Your County should have a VA deptment. Set up an appt to talk to the VA rep to see what the Vet is entitled to. Its hard for us to say because length of service and service related disabilities have a lot to do with what the Vet is entitled to. I would call a Hospice service and ask if someone could explain to you what pallitive and hospice care provide. Medicare also has intermediate care.
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to JoAnn29
Report

Medicare does cover palliative care and hospice care, but keep in mind palliative care only means a nurse coming once every 6 weeks to check on the patient and not much else, whereas hospice will have a nurse come once a week to start and aides to bathe your loved one.
Plus they will supply any and all needed equipment, supplies and medications all covered 100% under Medicare. You will also have access to the a social worker, chaplain, and hospice volunteer also covered 100%.
But keep in mind that even under hospice care 99% of your loved ones care will still fall on you or another family member, as they don't provide much if any hands on care.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to funkygrandma59
Report
PeggySue2020 Aug 31, 2026
My dad had home labs and pt on palliative, and a doctor came. He was on Kaiser Medicare Advantage.
(0)
Report
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter