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My mother is very concerned that Medicare is not going to cover hospice service and equipment like her wheelchair

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BreezyStarr2025,


1. Call the hospice provider first


They should:

Coordinate care
Help determine what should have been covered
Often advocate on billing issues





2. Appeal the ambulance denial


Very important—many get overturned.

Ask provider for:

Medical necessity documentation


File an appeal with Medicare. Instructions are on the rejection letter.





3. Check for current enrollment options


Depending on timing, they may still qualify to:

Re-enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan
Or possibly get a supplement (harder, but worth checking)





4. Contact 
State Health Insurance Assistance Program


This is huge:

Free, unbiased Medicare counseling
They’ll review your exact situation and fix gaps.





The big picture


This likely isn’t a “mistake” so much as:

A coverage transition without backup (Medigap)
Combined with how strict Medicare is about what it pays for


And the good news:

Some of these bills can be reduced or overturned
They’re not necessarily stuck with all of it.

I hope this helps.
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Reply to HaveYourBack
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Sample 16 hours ago
i have to laugh at number 2. I was already for the fight when my wife was on her way home from the hospital the ambulance was rear ended. No damage to the ambulance or occupants. They did not have the courage to send me a bill.
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Medicare will absolutely cover hospice care.

Hospice and all end of life equipment, supplies and medications are covered by Medicare Part A for everyone. In hospice, my elders were provided with a basic manual wheelchair, a hospital bed, bed tray, a lifted toilet seat with rails, and continence care items. Hospice also covered pain management medications and any of their regular prescriptions used to treat the condition for which hospice is needed. They had a Medicare C plan that continued to cover any outside doctor visits, such as podiatry, dental, and eye doctor, as well as any other prescriptions that they still wanted to continue taking.

If you are not on hospice, durable equipment like the wheelchair will be covered by your Part B (if you chose traditional medicare) or Part C (if you chose Medicare Advantage). That coverage will vary according to your plan.
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to elcee499
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Just to clarify....Medicare covers hospice but most Medicare Advantage program do not. So if you have a Medicare Advantage policy, you may need to switch.
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Reply to pamela78702
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BreezyStarr2025 20 hours ago
I discontinued my relatives Medicare advantage to Medicare now she is receiving astronomical medical bills. Even transport from hospital on hospice she has a bill saying transportation was not medically needed. Please advice should I have enrolled her in another plan..I truly need sound advice
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Yes—hospice will cover most of these things. The hospice physician will write the orders for what’s needed, and their team will submit everything to Medicare for approval and coordinate it on your behalf.

Take your time finding the right hospice. They are not all the same, and the difference in care, communication, and heart matters more than you can imagine.

Trust your gut on this—your person will tell you when it feels right.
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Reply to Finnsmom1
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Medicare does cover hospice care and supplies, in home or in a facility. Medicare will cover a new appliance w/o hospice care every 5 yrs. So if mom needs a wheelchair but not hospice, have her doctor write a prescription for one.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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