The Obama Administration has recently changed the Medicare policy regarding end-of-life planning and both the American Medical Association and American Heart Association strongly support the new Medicare coverage. The initial proposal of the idea received overwhelming positive response which means good news for those who qualify.
Starting in January, Medicare will begin covering counseling sessions in order to discuss end-of-life care options with a healthcare professional or physician. Counseling sessions will be voluntary and Medicare will pay $86 for the first 30 minutes if counseling happens in a physician's office or $80 if it is in a hospital setting. The amount of coverage will vary by region.
Medicare recipients may request counseling at any time when they are well, have received a serious diagnosis, or are receiving hospice care in 2016.