Two of the most commonly confused terms in healthcare are hospice and palliative care. Many families assume they mean the same thing — or that choosing one means giving up hope. Neither is true.

Understanding the difference between hospice and palliative care can help patients and families make better decisions about treatment, quality of life, and long-term care planning. This guide explains what each type of care involves, who qualifies, what's covered by insurance, and how to decide which is right for your situation.

In This Guide

The Key Difference in One Sentence
What Is Palliative Care?
What Is Hospice Care?
Side-by-Side Comparison
How Is Hospice Paid For?
When Is Palliative Care the Right Choice?
When Is Hospice the Right Choice?
Can You Have Both at the Same Time?
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Frequently Asked Questions
Making the Decision

The Key Difference in One Sentence

Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life at any stage of a serious illness — and can be provided alongside curative treatment. Hospice care is a specific type of palliative care for patients who have decided to stop curative treatment and have a life expectancy of six months or less.

In other words: all hospice is palliative care, but not all palliative care is hospice.

What Is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Key Facts About Palliative Care

Available at any age and any stage of illness — even at diagnosis
Can be provided alongside curative treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation
Delivered by a specialized team that works with your existing doctors
Addresses physical symptoms (pain, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath) as well as emotional, social, and spiritual needs
Available in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and sometimes at home

Who Benefits From Palliative Care?

Palliative care is appropriate for anyone living with a serious illness, including:

Cancer
Heart failure
COPD and other chronic lung diseases
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Alzheimer's and other dementias
Parkinson's disease
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
Multiple sclerosis
Stroke recovery

You do not have to be dying to receive palliative care. Many patients receive palliative care for years while continuing active treatment.

What Does a Palliative Care Team Look Like?

A palliative care team typically includes:

Palliative care physicians — Doctors specially trained in symptom management and serious illness communication
Nurse practitioners and registered nurses — Provide hands-on care and patient education
Social workers — Help with emotional support, advance care planning, and navigating the healthcare system
Chaplains or spiritual counselors — Provide spiritual care and support for patients of all faiths
Pharmacists, dietitians, and other specialists — Address specific needs as they arise

🔍 Find Post-Acute Care Providers Near You Search our directory of 77,900+ providers to find home health, hospice, SNF, and rehab services in your area. Search Providers →

What Is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is a philosophy of care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients who are nearing the end of life. When a patient and their doctor agree that curative treatment is no longer working or desired, hospice provides comprehensive support for the patient and their family.

Key Facts About Hospice Care

For patients with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less (if the disease runs its normal course)
The patient agrees to forgo curative treatment and focus on comfort
Provides a full team of professionals — doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers
Most hospice care (over 80%) is delivered in the patient's home
Also available in hospice facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals
Includes bereavement support for the family for up to 13 months after the patient's death

Common Misconceptions About Hospice

"Hospice means giving up." Hospice is not about giving up — it's about shifting the focus from fighting the disease to maximizing comfort and quality of life. Many patients and families say they wish they had started hospice sooner.

"You can only get hospice in the last few days." Hospice is available for up to six months and can be recertified if the patient continues to meet eligibility criteria. Some patients are on hospice for over a year.

"Hospice means no more medical care." Hospice patients still receive medical care — including pain management, symptom control, medications related to their terminal diagnosis, medical equipment, and supplies. What changes is the goal of care: comfort instead of cure.

"You can never go back to treatment." Patients can revoke hospice at any time and return to curative treatment if they choose. Hospice is not a permanent, irreversible decision.

Side-by-Side Comparison

| Feature | Palliative Care | Hospice Care | |---|---|---| | Goal | Improve quality of life, manage symptoms | Comfort and dignity at end of life | | Stage of illness | Any stage, from diagnosis onward | Terminal prognosis of 6 months or less | | Curative treatment | Can continue alongside | Curative treatment is discontinued | | Where it's provided | Hospital, clinic, home | Home, hospice facility, nursing home | | Who provides it | Specialized palliative care team | Hospice interdisciplinary team | | Insurance coverage | Covered by most insurance plans | Medicare Hospice Benefit covers nearly all costs | | Duration | As long as needed | 6 months (renewable) | | Bereavement support | Not typically included | Up to 13 months for family |

📋 Understanding Your Care Options? Read: What Happens After the Hospital: A Step-by-Step Guide to Post-Acute Care

How Is Hospice Paid For?

Medicare Hospice Benefit

The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers virtually all hospice-related costs, including:

Physician services
Nursing care
Home health aide and homemaker services
Medical social work
Spiritual counseling
Medical equipment (hospital bed, wheelchair, oxygen)
Medical supplies (bandages, catheters, gloves)
Medications related to the terminal diagnosis
Short-term inpatient care (for symptom management that can't be handled at home)
Respite care (up to 5 days to give family caregivers a break)
Bereavement counseling for the family

Cost to the patient: Medicare hospice patients pay little to nothing. There may be small copays for prescription drugs (up to $5 per medication) and respite care (5% of the Medicare-approved amount).

Medicaid and Private Insurance

Most state Medicaid programs and private insurance plans also cover hospice care, though the specifics vary. Contact your insurance provider to understand your benefits.

How Is Palliative Care Paid For?

Palliative care is typically covered by health insurance as a medical specialty consultation. Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans cover palliative care services, though copays and deductibles may apply — similar to any specialist visit.

When Is Palliative Care the Right Choice?

Consider palliative care if:

You've been diagnosed with a serious illness and are experiencing symptoms that affect your quality of life
You're undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or surgery and need help managing side effects
You want to better understand your diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options
You need help with advance care planning (healthcare proxy, living will, goals of care discussions)
You're feeling overwhelmed by the emotional, spiritual, or logistical challenges of your illness
Your family needs support in their caregiving role

How to Access Palliative Care

Ask your doctor for a referral to palliative care
Check if your hospital has a palliative care program (most large hospitals do)
Search for outpatient palliative care clinics in your area
Home-based palliative care programs are growing — ask your doctor about availability

When Is Hospice the Right Choice?

Consider hospice if:

A doctor has determined that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less
Curative treatments are no longer effective or the patient has decided to stop them
The priority has shifted to comfort and quality of life over extending life
The patient wants to spend their remaining time at home with family
The family needs support, education, and respite in caring for their loved one

How to Access Hospice

Ask the patient's doctor about hospice eligibility
Contact hospice agencies directly — they can help determine if the patient qualifies
Use the NDPAP hospice directory to find hospice providers in your area
A referral from a doctor is required, but any family member can initiate the conversation

Can You Have Both at the Same Time?

In most cases, palliative care and hospice are sequential — meaning you receive palliative care first, and transition to hospice when appropriate. However, there's growing overlap:

Some hospice programs offer pre-hospice palliative care to patients not yet ready for hospice
Concurrent care models allow certain patients (especially in Medicaid programs) to receive curative treatment and hospice simultaneously
Pediatric patients under 21 can receive hospice and curative treatment at the same time under federal law

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you or a loved one is facing a serious illness, here are important questions to discuss with your healthcare team:

"Would my loved one benefit from palliative care?" — This question can be asked at any time, regardless of the stage of illness
"Is it time to consider hospice?" — If curative treatments aren't working or are causing more harm than benefit
"What would care look like if we focused on comfort?" — Helps you understand what hospice would provide
"What is the likely course of this illness?" — Helps set realistic expectations
"Can we try hospice and go back to treatment if things improve?" — Yes, hospice can be revoked at any time

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you receive hospice care at home?

Yes. Over 80% of hospice care in the United States is provided in the patient's home. Hospice can also be provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and dedicated hospice facilities.

How long can someone be on hospice?

Hospice is initially certified for two 90-day periods, followed by unlimited 60-day periods. As long as the patient continues to meet eligibility criteria, hospice can continue indefinitely.

Does hospice provide 24/7 care?

Hospice provides intermittent visits (typically several times per week), plus 24/7 on-call support for emergencies. Hospice does not provide round-the-clock in-home caregiving. For continuous care needs, families may need to supplement with private caregivers or consider a hospice facility.

What happens if a hospice patient lives longer than six months?

The patient can continue to receive hospice care. The hospice medical director will recertify the patient if they still meet the eligibility criteria. There is no penalty for living longer than expected.

How do I find hospice or palliative care providers near me?

Use the NDPAP directory to search for hospice providers by location. For palliative care, ask your doctor for a referral or contact your local hospital's palliative care department.

🔍 Compare Providers in Your Area Browse verified providers, compare services, and find contact information. Search All Providers →

Making the Decision

Choosing between palliative care and hospice — or knowing when to transition from one to the other — is deeply personal. There's no single right answer, and the decision often evolves over time as the illness progresses.

The most important thing is to have the conversation early. Talk with your doctor, your family, and your care team about what matters most to you — whether that's pursuing every treatment option, focusing on comfort, or finding a balance between the two.

Looking for hospice providers in your area? Search the NDPAP directory to find and compare hospice agencies near you.

Hospice vs. Palliative Care: Which Is Right? (2026)