Homecare and Hospice Frequently Asked Questions

Home care is for people who need medical care after a surgery, illness, or injury but want to recover at home. A nurse, therapist, or other caregiver comes to your home to help you get better.

Hospice is for people with a serious illness who are no longer seeking curative treatment and want to focus on comfort and quality of life. Hospice supports both the patient and the family, wherever home may be.

Palliative care is comfort-focused care that can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, even alongside curative treatment. It focuses on managing pain, symptoms, and stress.

Hospice is a type of palliative care specifically for people who are no longer pursuing curative treatment and whose doctor has estimated a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its expected course.  Learn more about the differences between palliative and hospice care.

You may be a good candidate for home health if your doctor has ordered skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy, and you have difficulty leaving your home due to your condition.

Home care is most often used after a hospital stay, surgery, or a new diagnosis that requires medical monitoring at home.

Call us at 865-374-0600 to talk through your situation with our team.

This is one of the hardest questions a family can face. Hospice may be right when curative treatments are no longer working or desired, when managing comfort becomes the primary goal, or when a physician has estimated a life expectancy of six months or less.  Our team can help you have this conversation. You do not have to have all the answers before you call.

Call us at 865-374-0600. We will listen first.

Hospice focuses on comfort rather than curative treatment. However, your care team will continue to manage pain, symptoms, and any conditions affecting your comfort. If a patient’s condition improves, they may be discharged from hospice and return to curative care. Choosing hospice does not mean giving up; it means choosing quality of life.

On the first visit, a nurse or therapist will assess your condition, review your medications, and work with you to create a care plan. Follow-up visits focus on your care goals, whether that is helping you recover from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or regaining strength through therapy. Visits are scheduled at times that work for you.

Most patients are referred by a physician, hospital, or other healthcare provider. If you think you or a loved one may need home care or hospice care, start by talking to your doctor. You can also call our team directly at 865-374-0600, and we can help guide you through the process.

Yes. Home health services require a physician’s order. If you have recently been discharged from a hospital or had a procedure at a Covenant Health facility, your care team may already have initiated a referral. If not, your primary care physician can order home health services.

Once a referral is received and your insurance is verified, we work to schedule your first visit as quickly as possible. In most cases, services can begin within one to two days. For urgent situations, we do our best to respond the same day.

Call 865-374-0600 to discuss your timeline.

It helps to have your insurance card, a list of all current medications and dosages, your physician’s contact information, and any recent hospital discharge paperwork. Your care coordinator will let you know if anything else is needed before the visit.

We do our best to provide consistent caregivers so that you and your family can build a relationship with your care team. Schedules can sometimes change, but continuity of care is a priority for us.

Yes. Hospice can be provided wherever you call home. That includes a private residence, an assisted living facility, a nursing home, or an inpatient hospice facility. Our team will work with you to provide care in the setting that is most comfortable for you.

Hospice care is designed for the whole family, not just the patient. Your hospice team includes nurses, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers who support both the patient and those who love them. We also provide grief support services after a loved one passes.

Learn more about our Grief Support Services and Katerpillar Kids Camp for children who have experienced a loss.

Yes, in most cases. Medicare Part A and Part B both cover home health services when your physician certifies that you need skilled care and you meet Medicare’s homebound criteria. There is typically no copay or deductible for Medicare-covered home care services.  Covenant Health HomeCare and Hospice will verify your coverage before services begin.

Yes. Medicare’s hospice benefit covers most hospice services with little to no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. To qualify, a physician must certify that you have a life-limiting illness with an estimated life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its expected course, and you must agree to receive comfort care rather than curative treatment.  Medicare hospice coverage includes nursing visits, medication for comfort, medical equipment, social work, chaplain support, and bereavement services for your family.

We accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most major commercial insurance plans. We also work with many managed care organizations and veterans’ benefits programs.  For a full list of accepted insurances, visit our insurance participation page or call us to verify your coverage before services begin.

Questions about coverage? Call 865-374-0600.

We do not want cost to be a barrier to care. If you are uninsured or concerned about your ability to pay, please call us. Our team can discuss your options, including sliding fee scales and financial assistance resources through Covenant Health.

Call 865-374-0600 or ask about financial assistance at covenanthealth.com.

For billing questions, please call 865-835-5565. Our billing team is happy to answer questions about your statement, explain your benefits, or help you understand what your insurance has covered.

Yes. We handle insurance filing for you so you can focus on care, not paperwork. Please make sure we have your current insurance information, and let us know right away if your coverage, address, or contact information changes.