Both happen at home. Both are paid by Medicare. They are completely different things. Home health is rehab-oriented care for someone expected to recover. Hospice is comfort-oriented care for someone expected to die.
| Home Health | Hospice | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Recovery, function, getting better | Comfort, dignity, symptom management |
| Eligibility | Homebound + needing skilled care | Terminal diagnosis, prognosis ≤6 months |
| Medicare coverage | Episodes, doctor-ordered | 100%, no copay, no deductible |
| Who shows up | Nurse, PT, OT, speech therapy, sometimes aide | Nurse, aide, social worker, chaplain, volunteer |
| Visit frequency | 1-3x/week, typically 4-6 weeks | Weekly, plus on-call 24/7, ongoing |
| Medication coverage | Patient pays via Part D | Hospice covers all comfort-related meds |
| Equipment (hospital bed, oxygen) | Limited, doctor-ordered | Provided as needed |
| Can you have both? | No, not for the same diagnosis | No — hospice replaces curative treatment |
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Get a real opinionNo. Multiple studies show hospice patients often live longer than similar patients pursuing aggressive treatment. Comfort care reduces stress on the body.
Yes — and it happens more than people expect. You re-enroll if her condition declines again. Hospice is not a permanent label.
No. The hospice team includes a medical director. Curative treatment is suspended; medical attention is not.