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Health benefits for the terminally ill: reality and perception
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|January 23, 1999
Summary
Most employers provide hospice benefits, often through explicit coverage or case management. Employers generally support hospice care, believing it lowers overall medical expenses for terminally ill patients.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Palliative Care Research
- Employee Benefits
Background:
- Limited understanding of employer-provided hospice benefits exists.
- Employer perspectives on end-of-life care influence benefit availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the availability and scope of hospice benefits offered by employers.
- To understand employers' attitudes and knowledge regarding terminal care options.
Main Methods:
- National random sample survey of 1,502 employers (≥200 employees).
- Focus groups conducted with employee benefits managers and insurance advisors.
Main Results:
- 83% of employers offer explicit hospice benefits.
- Most remaining employers cover hospice via high-cost case management.
- Employers support hospice, perceiving it as a cost-saving measure.
Conclusions:
- Hospice care is widely available through employer benefits.
- Employer perception of cost reduction drives hospice support.
- Further research can explore optimizing hospice benefit design and utilization.