Hospice Care in Massachusetts

Searching for hospice care near Massachusetts? Senova lists 50 verified Medicare-certified hospice providers drawn directly from CMS Care Compare, the federal government's official provider directory. Information is refreshed monthly.

About hospice care in Massachusetts

Hospice care supports patients with a life-limiting illness — typically a prognosis of six months or less — and their families with comfort-focused medical, emotional, and spiritual care, delivered at home or in a hospice facility.

Services typically offered

• Pain and symptom management
• Skilled nursing care
• Medical equipment & medications
• Spiritual and emotional support
• Bereavement counseling for family
• Respite care for caregivers

Insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid coverage

Hospice is fully covered by Medicare Part A, by Medicaid in every state, and by most private insurance plans. The Medicare hospice benefit covers care, medications related to the terminal diagnosis, and equipment with no out-of-pocket cost to the patient or family.

MassHealth covers hospice care through the Frail Elder Waiver program. To qualify, residents typically need to meet the financial threshold (about $2,901/month for an individual) and have a documented care need that would otherwise require nursing-facility-level care. Applications go through Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which is also the licensing authority for these providers.

Massachusetts Medicaid & eligibility deep dive

Eligibility for MassHealth

To qualify for hospice care under MassHealth, applicants generally need to meet two criteria: financial eligibility and a documented care need. Financial eligibility is based on income — typically $2,901/month for an individual — and on countable assets, usually capped around $2,000 for an individual (with separate rules for spouses). The care-need test typically requires a level-of-care assessment showing the applicant would need nursing-facility-level care without home- and community-based support.

The Frail Elder Waiver program

Massachusetts's primary vehicle for hospice care coverage is the Frail Elder Waiver. Covered services typically include skilled nursing visits, physical and occupational therapy, home health aide hours, medical social services, durable medical equipment, and respite for family caregivers. Some recipients qualify for round-the-clock personal care assistance — coverage levels vary by assessed need.

How to apply

1. Complete the Medicaid application through Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services), by phone, in person at a local office, or through healthcare.gov.
2. Provide income documentation (pay stubs, tax returns, Social Security benefit letters), bank statements, and proof of citizenship or legal residency.
3. Once enrolled in Medicaid, request a long-term services and supports (LTSS) assessment to determine eligibility for the Frail Elder Waiver.
4. If approved, you can choose any participating hospice care provider — the ones listed below all accept Medicaid where they have contracts.

Application timelines vary: Medicaid itself can be approved in 30–45 days for most applicants, while waiver enrollment may take 60–180 days due to assessments and waitlists. Some Massachusetts regions have shorter waitlists than others — typically urban metros move faster than rural counties.

Massachusetts hospice care by the numbers

• 50 verified Medicare-certified hospice providers across Massachusetts.
• Sourced from CMS Care Compare (Medicare's official provider database), refreshed monthly.
• MassHealth is Massachusetts's primary public payer for hospice care.
• Average wait time to start care varies — urban metros generally start within 7–14 days; rural counties may take 30+ days.

How much does hospice care cost in Massachusetts?

Costs are 2026 estimates. Verify with the specific provider before scheduling.

How to choose a hospice care provider

When you compare hospice care providers, focus on five things: (1) certification status (Medicare- or Medicaid-certified for clinical care; SAMHSA-listed for behavioral health), (2) services offered relative to the specific need, (3) which insurance plans and Medicaid waivers they accept, (4) how quickly they can start, (5) patient and family reviews where available. Reputable providers explain coverage, costs, and care plans up front; high-pressure sales tactics are a red flag.

Before signing a care agreement, ask for the answers to these questions in writing: which services are billed to Medicare/Medicaid versus billed to you out of pocket; who is the primary care coordinator; how the agency handles after-hours calls and emergencies; the typical response time for new requests; and two or three references from current patients or families. Providers who refuse to share references are a yellow flag — keep looking.

Related guides

• State-by-state Medicaid & HCBS guide
• How to apply for Medicaid and HCBS waivers
• Medicare Care Compare (official source)
• CMS Massachusetts Medicaid overview

What you'll find on this page

This page covers every hospice care provider with a verified address in Massachusetts. For a tighter view, check the city pages for specific Massachusetts cities below. Click any provider's name below to view their full profile — address, phone, services, ownership, certification details, and how to contact them. Senova never charges patients or families for these listings, and providers cannot pay to appear higher on this page.

About this data

Senova is a free, independent directory of care providers. We do not run any of the agencies listed below — we surface them from authoritative federal data so you can find them faster. Our data source is the CMS Provider Data Catalog (Care Compare). If you spot outdated or incorrect information, the source dataset is publicly auditable and refreshed by the federal government on a monthly basis. To request a correction directly, contact CMS at 1-800-MEDICARE or the provider directly.