How to Request the Five-Day Hospice Respite Benefit
How caregiver exhaustion can lead to a short inpatient respite stay arranged by hospice.
Start here
Ask the hospice social worker or nurse for inpatient respite when the caregiver needs a break. Medicare can cover up to five consecutive days at a time in an approved facility when the hospice arranges it.
What to have in front of you
- The notice, bill, decision, or discharge paperwork connected to the problem
- The person’s full name, date of birth, address, insurance information, and identification
- A short timeline with dates, names, phone calls, and what changed
- Copies of medical, school, financial, or care records that directly support the request
What to say when someone answers
“I am the primary caregiver and I cannot safely continue without a break. I am requesting inpatient respite and need to know availability, transport, cost sharing, and how quickly it can be arranged.”
Small but useful: Write down the person’s name, the date, the exact next step, and when you should call again.
Do this in order
- 1
Tell the hospice exactly what caregiving tasks are no longer sustainable and the dates respite is needed.
- 2
Ask which contracted facilities accept respite and whether a bed is currently available.
- 3
Confirm transportation, medications, equipment, personal items, and any coinsurance.
- 4
Ask what backup exists if no respite bed is open.
What happens next
The hospice arranges a short stay if respite is appropriate and a contracted bed is available. The patient returns home or to the prior residence afterward.
If they say “we’ll put you on the list”
If the hospice says respite is unavailable, ask whether another contracted facility, volunteer support, paid care, or a different date can be arranged. Escalate repeated access problems.
Official sources
Checked August 5, 2026. Programs, hours, funding, and enrollment lists can change. Confirm details directly before relying on them.