End of Life Concerns Hospice Care The Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care By Trisha Torrey Trisha Torrey Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Trisha Torrey is a patient empowerment and advocacy consultant. She has written several books about patient advocacy and how to best navigate the healthcare system. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 10, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD Medically reviewed by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD LinkedIn Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD, is a board-certified internist specializing in geriatric medicine. For over 15 years, he's practiced at the Kansas University Medical Center, where he is also a professor. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by James Lacy Fact checked by James Lacy LinkedIn James Lacy, MLS, is a fact-checker and researcher. James received a Master of Library Science degree from Dominican University. Learn about our editorial process Print We often hear the two terms in the same sentence or title, “hospice and palliative care.” Yet even though they are complementary, they are two different things. Westend61 / Getty Images What Is Palliative Care? Palliative care, also called comfort care, is about providing relief. It is administered to people who have a debilitating disease, whether or not they are on their way to being cured, and no matter how long their lives will be lived. By providing palliative care, a provider is considering the patient’s quality of life, making sure that the patient isn’t suffering difficult symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue, constipation, shortness of breath, insomnia, or even mental health challenges like depression for as long as he or she lives, no matter how long that might be. Unlike hospice care (see below), palliative care has no time frame. It may be a short-term need, such as for patients who are undergoing cancer treatment, need comfort support and will eventually be cured, or at least their disease or condition will be managed. Or it may be a long-term need for patients who will cope with their diseases for the rest of their lives, perhaps for years. Palliative care may also be used in conjunction with hospice care (see below). Palliative care benefits not just patients, but their loved ones as well who may also find comfort in knowing that their loved one’s suffering is being managed. A patient’s doctor is the one who recognizes a patient needs palliative care and is also the one who prescribes it. Some doctors are becoming board certified in palliative care. There is also a nursing certification. If you are searching for a doctor to help with chronic suffering, whether or not it is an end-of-life situation, you may look to these boards to recommend their members. (Do a web search for “palliative care certification.”) Palliative care is paid for by the patients’ insurer or payer (Medicare, Medicaid, and others) to the extent the patient’s insurance covers any other medical services. If you feel as if more can be done to ease your physical or emotional suffering, ask your doctor to discuss palliative care options with you. What Is Hospice Care? Hospice care is provided at the end of someone’s life, recognizing that patients suffer differently when they know the end of life is near. Unlike palliative care, hospice care is triggered by a timeframe. A patient cannot be recommended for hospice care unless and until a doctor (and in some states, two doctors) certifies that the patient is within six months of the end of his or her life. Hospice care may include some forms of palliative care. The difference is that hospice care provides no expectation or even the suggestion of a cure. Hospice is intended only to manage symptoms, to keep the patient comfortable until he or she dies. One misconception about hospice is that it’s a place – a facility where people go to die. While there are thousands of hospice care facilities across the United States and Canada, hospice may also be centered in a nursing home or a hospital. Hospice services may also be provided in the home. Just as doctors may be board certified in palliative care, they may also be board certified in hospice care; often it is the same board certification. Hospice organizations are run similarly to a doctors’ practice. They may have several locations, they have relationships with other providers, they must conform to HIPAA laws, sometimes they make house calls, and they accept some insurances and payers like Medicare or Medicaid. Hospice organizations have their own medical/clinical staffs. One question patients and families may have is whether a patient must change doctors upon entering hospice services. The answer isn’t the same for all hospice organizations, so it’s best to ask if you are considering hospice for yourself or a loved one. If the patient uses Medicare or Medicaid, the cost of hospice care is covered 100% for the hospice patient. If the patient relies on private insurance, the amount of coverage will vary. Be sure to confirm with your local hospice organization that payment will be covered. 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Certification for hospice and palliative medicine specialists. Editorial Process Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit