If you’re unhappy with your loved one’s hospice care, or you simply think another team might be a better fit, you may be wondering whether you’re stuck. You’re not. Under the Medicare hospice benefit, patients can change hospice providers, and doing so doesn’t mean ending hospice care. It means choosing a different team to provide it.

Here’s how a switch works, what to ask before you make one, and how to keep your loved one comfortable while it happens.

Yes, You Can Change Hospice Providers

Medicare allows a patient to change from one hospice to another, generally once in each benefit period. A change of hospice is not treated as revoking the hospice benefit, which is a different step with different consequences. Your loved one stays on hospice, and the benefit period timeline continues rather than starting over.

The patient or their representative makes the change by signing a written statement. That statement names the current hospice, names the new hospice, and gives the date the change takes effect.

Learn more: You Can Leave Hospice. Here’s What Happens If You Do explains revocation, which is a separate choice from switching providers.

These rules describe the Medicare hospice benefit. If your loved one has Medicaid or private insurance, ask the plan how changing hospices works under their coverage.

Why Families Consider Switching

Families change hospices for many reasons, and none of them is a mistake or a betrayal. Some of the most common:

• Communication. Calls aren’t returned quickly, or the family feels uninformed about the plan of care.
• Changing needs. A patient who was stable at home may need more hands-on support, or a different setting. Our post on hospice location options explains how care can follow the patient to different settings.
• A move. The patient relocates to be near family, and the current hospice doesn’t serve that area.
• Support that doesn’t fit. The family wants more spiritual, emotional, or practical support than they’re getting.
• A sense that something is off. Sometimes there isn’t one clear problem, just a feeling that the match isn’t right.

Talk With Your Current Hospice First

Before switching, consider asking for a care team meeting to raise your concerns. Many issues, such as a missed visit, unclear instructions, or a medication question, can be resolved quickly when the team hears about them. The case manager is usually the main point of contact between the patient, family, and care providers, so that’s a good first call. A hospice social worker can also help families communicate with the medical team.

If you’ve raised your concerns and still don’t feel heard, or your situation has changed, switching is a reasonable choice. The decision is yours and your loved one’s.

How a Switch Works, Step by Step

Every situation is different, so confirm the details with both hospices. In general, the process looks like this:

1. Choose a new Medicare-certified hospice. Ask about services, availability, and whether they serve your loved one’s address.
2. Contact your current hospice. Tell them you’d like to transfer, and ask for their transfer form or process.
3. Sign the written statement. It should list the current hospice, the new hospice, and the effective date.
4. Give copies to both hospices. Both need the signed statement.
5. Let your doctor know. Your loved one’s physician should be aware of the change.
6. Meet the new team. The new hospice will assess your loved one’s needs and build a plan of care.

How to Avoid a Gap in Care

The goal is a smooth handoff, with no day when your loved one is without support. A few things help:

• Pick the effective date carefully. Line it up so the new hospice team is ready on day one.
• Ask about medications and equipment. Find out who will provide what, and when. Hospice-covered medical equipment like beds, oxygen, and wheelchairs may need to be returned or reset, so ask both hospices to coordinate.
• Know who to call. Before the switch is final, confirm how to reach the new team around the clock. Our on-call services are one example of what to ask about.
• Keep records handy. A list of current medications, diagnoses, and your loved one’s preferences makes the first visit easier.

What to Ask a New Hospice

A short list of questions can help you compare:

• Is a team member available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
• What is the hospice team made up of, and how often will they visit?
• Which services are included, such as nursing, hospice aides, chaplain services, and volunteers?
• Can care be provided at home, in a facility, or in an inpatient setting when symptoms need closer attention?
• Do you serve my loved one’s address? Our service area page lists the counties and cities we serve, and you’re welcome to call and confirm whether your address is covered.
• Who do I call when I have a concern?

Switching, Leaving, and Re-Enrolling Are Different Things

These terms are easy to confuse:

• Switching means moving to a different hospice and staying on the hospice benefit.
• Revoking means choosing to leave hospice, often to return to curative treatment. Re-enrolling after revocation is possible later if your loved one still qualifies.
• Discharge is a clinical decision when a patient no longer meets the criteria, which we cover in what happens when a hospice patient improves.

For a plain-language look at returning to hospice, see What Does It Mean to Re-Elect Hospice?

Common Questions About Changing Hospices

• Can I switch hospice providers more than once? Medicare generally allows one change in each benefit period. Ask both hospices how this applies to your loved one’s timeline.
• Does switching mean my loved one loses hospice benefits? No. A change of hospice isn’t a revocation, and the benefit period timeline continues.
• Will my loved one need to be re-evaluated? The new hospice will assess your loved one’s needs and create a plan of care. The new team will explain what to expect.
• Who can ask about switching? The patient or their representative. Family members and caregivers can also start the conversation and ask questions on the patient’s behalf.

Questions About a Switch? Talk With Our Team

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Contact iServe Hospice or call (469) 480-1130 to talk through your situation, or check your loved one’s eligibility to see where to begin.