Does Medicare Cover Hospice Room And Board? 
As if January , 2013 , Medicare will cover short term inpatient care -LRB- for pain and symptom management -RRB- and short term respite care -LRB- but a small copayment may need to be made -RRB- . Respite care is to give the caregiver a rest , and is allowed up to 5 days at a time on an occasional basis . In order to qualify for Hospice Benefits as a whole , the patient must be covered by Medicare Part A , been certified terminally ill by the doctor and hospice medical director -LRB- 6 months or less to live -RRB- , sign a form saying that they are choosing Hospice over other covered benefits to treat their terminal illness , and get care from a Medicare-approved hospice program 