Problem:
Reply in first person to this statement in less than 300 words. use in text citations and references in APA format: Hospice care is both a philosophy of care and a Medicare benefit. The philosophy of hospice is to care for the individual holistically with a focus on symptom management and quality of life, rather than a curative focus. In 1983, The Medicare Hospice Benefit was established (Hospice | CMS, 2024). From the most recent data, there are approximately 1.5 million individuals receiving hospice care and the typical age of hospice recipient is 82 years or older (FastStats, 2024). Hospice can be covered by other insurances, offered as a private pay or pro bono cases for those that do not have Medicare coverage, but the primary payor source for hospice is Medicare. Because Medicare is the primary payer for hospice, the U.S. government plays a significant role in the delivery of hospice care. However, it raises an important question: why is health care considered a right for individuals aged 65 and older, while those under 65 often experience it as a privilege tied to insurance status? This gap can lead to devastating consequences. I have seen younger patients in need of end-of-life care be denied hospice services because their insurance does not provide coverage. As a nation, we already have a functioning model of federally supported health care through Medicare, which demonstrates that publicly funded care is both feasible and effective. Need Assignment Help?