Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering. Hospice care provides an alternative to therapies focused on life-prolonging measures that may be arduous, likely to cause more symptoms, or are not aligned with a person's goals.
A Hospice House in Missouri
St Christopher's Hospice in 2005
Hospice Saint Vincent de Paul, Jerusalem
St Thomas Hospice, Canterbury
Medicare is a federal health insurance program in the United States for people age 65 or older and younger people with disabilities, including those with end stage renal disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It was begun in 1965 under the Social Security Administration and is now administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Medicare amendment (July 30, 1965). Former President Harry S. Truman (seated) and his wife, Bess, are on the far right.
A sample of the Medicare card format used through 2018. The ID number is the subscriber's Social Security number, followed by a suffix indicating the holder's relationship to the subscriber (generally "A" for self). There are separate lines for basic Part A and Part B's supplementary medical coverage, each with its own start date.
A sample of the new Medicare cards mailed out in 2018 and 2019 depending on state of residence on a Social Security database. The new ID number is randomly generated and not tied to any personally identifying information. Beneficiaries on Medicare Part C health plans are issued with a separate card and ID number, in addition to their Original Medicare card.
