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CliffB Asked September 2021

My mom started hospice. Do we still need her Humana Medicare Advantage prescription plan? She's in FL and using Trustbridge.

She lives at home with her partner. All her prescriptions and care are covered by Trustbridge via Medicare. She's in the early stages of Hospice. We don't anticipate her graduating out of Hospice after 6-months.


So, if we are able to cancel her prescription plan, what happens if she miraculously gets better and stops Hospice? Will we have to wait until open enrollment to put her back on a prescription plan?

MJ1929 Sep 2021
Hospice covers most meds through Medicare, but not all of them. My mom's monthly bill went from around $150/month to about $30 once she started hospice. It was mostly things like vitamins, which we did stop eventually, but we didn't stop them immediately. I want to say we paid for her Ensure that way, too, at least for a while.

Keep the insurance.

Grandma1954 Sep 2021
I would keep the plan she has for the time being.
Generally Hospice does cover medications that are needed BUT there are times when a medication is needed but Hospice does not cover it. At that point the prescription plan will come in handy. You can discuss this with the Nurse I am sure they are asked this many times.
And it might be possible that if you drop a portion of a plan you might night be able to get that exact same coverage during the next open enrollment.

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TNtechie Sep 2021
I think she should remain on the plan. I do not know if she needs to stay on the plan to help pay for prescriptions when she's on hospice (sometimes they bill a provider even when they are providing the care at no cost to you). I do know that Medicare requirements dictate If you drop a plan and need to be re-enroll, you will be required to pay a penalty for the time without a plan. Maybe the Hospice could provide more guidance.

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