Both palliative care and hospice care are focused on the needs of the patient and their quality of life, with hospice specifically focused on the period closest to death. Key differences between palliative care and hospice care are summarized below:
| Question | Palliative Care | Hospice Care |
| Who can be treated? | Anyone with a serious illness | Anyone with a serious illness who doctors think has a short time to live, usually fewer than 6 months |
| Will symptoms be relieved? | Yes, as much as possible | Yes, as much as possible |
| Can I continue to receive treatments to cure my illness? | Yes, if you wish | No, symptom relief only will be provided as well as medications for quality of life such as high blood pressure control |
| Will Medicare pay? | It depends on your benefits and treatment plan | Yes, it pays all hospice charges |
| Does private insurance pay? | It depends on the plan | It depends on the plan |
| How long will I be cared for? | This depends on what care you need and your insurance plan | As long as you meet the hospice’s criteria of an illness with a life expectancy of months, not years |
| Where will I receive care? |
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To help you learn more about the differences, CaringInfo has prepared a summary of the two types of care which can be downloaded at NHPCO.org.
