Market context note: This article covers information from both Korea and the United States. Each section is marked with 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. to indicate which country's system is being discussed.
When parents receive a terminal diagnosis, one of the first questions families face is: "What kind of care should we choose?" Hospice and palliative care are not about giving up treatment—rather, they are medical services designed to reduce suffering, improve quality of life, and help patients and families spend their remaining time together meaningfully. In 2026, both Korea and the United States have seen significant changes in this field.
🇰🇷 Korea Hospice and palliative care in Korea is based on the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Act (연명의료결정법). Eligible patients include those with terminal illness or in the dying process due to cancer, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or chronic liver cirrhosis. Services are divided into three main types: inpatient, home-based, and consultative. Inpatient care involves admission to a specialized ward for intensive care; home-based care involves a hospice team visiting the patient's home; and consultative care involves a hospice team providing collaborative care to patients in general hospital wards.
🇰🇷 Korea The most notable change in 2026 is the increase in reimbursement rates for home-based hospice. At the Second Healthcare Insurance Policy Review Committee meeting in 2026, the Ministry of Health and Welfare decided to raise the reimbursement rate for home-based hospice, strengthening compensation for ongoing management services including physician and nurse home visits, end-of-life care, and telephone counseling. Currently, approximately 2,000 patients are using home-based hospice services through 40 medical institutions nationwide. This rate increase is meaningful in expanding options for terminal patients to finish their lives with dignity at home rather than in a hospital.
🇰🇷 Korea In 2026, there are also changes to the system for registering advance directives for life-sustaining treatment decisions (사전연명의료의향서). Previously, registration required an in-person visit and completion; system improvements are underway to allow online registration as well. During 2025, the number of registered institutions expanded from 760 to 819, and participating medical institutions grew from 468 to 513. Public perception of hospice also improved from 72.0% to 76.9%. However, the installation rate of end-of-life care rooms in medical institutions with 300 or more beds remains at only 43.7%, indicating this is still an area requiring improvement.
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, Medicare Part A covers hospice benefits. When two attending physicians certify that a patient has a life expectancy of 6 months or less, coverage includes nursing visits, medical equipment, symptom-related medications, counseling, and short-term inpatient care. As of 2023 (the most recent complete data), approximately 1.72 million Medicare beneficiaries used hospice services, representing about 51.7% of all Medicare deaths. The average age of hospice users is approximately 80 years, with those 85 and older comprising the largest share.
🇺🇸 U.S. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) raised the hospice payment rate by 2.6% for fiscal year 2026, and the annual benefit cap per patient was adjusted to 35,361.44 dollars. Additionally, starting October 2025, the existing HIS (Hospice Item Set) quality reporting system has been completely replaced by the HOPE (Hospice Outcomes & Patient Evaluation) tool, requiring hospice providers to collect data more comprehensively throughout patient admission and discharge. Patient cost-sharing remains at a maximum copayment of 5 dollars per prescription and approximately 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for short-term inpatient care.
🇺🇸 U.S. It is worth noting that more than half of hospice use in the United States takes place at home or in assisted living facilities. Approximately 75% of total care days occur in the space patients call "home," and about 70% of Americans surveyed say they wish to spend their final days at home. However, hospice enrollment typically occurs quite late, with a median life expectancy of only 17 days from the point of Medicare beneficiary admission. Please remember that the earlier someone connects with hospice, the greater the benefits for both patient and family.
The choice of hospice and palliative care appropriate to your parents' situation will naturally differ from family to family. If your family lives in Korea, you can find a nearby specialized institution through the Central Hospice Center (hospice.go.kr) or the Ministry of Health and Welfare consultation service. If your family lives in the United States, you can compare hospice institutions in your area on Medicare.gov. Sierra Care Advisor is here to support Korean-American family caregivers who feel uncertain about where to begin.
Source: Republic of Korea Policy Briefing (Ministry of Health and Welfare, January 2026), Central Hospice Center (hospice.go.kr), OnShimpyo Journal (June 2026, reporting on the Ministry of Health and Welfare National Hospice and Life-Sustaining Treatment Committee 2026 Implementation Plan), Easy-to-Find Living Laws Information (April 2026 basis), National Integration Committee Appendix Materials, CMS FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index Final Rule (CMS-1835-F, August 2025), Caring Hospice Institute 2026 Statistics (based on CMS, NHPCO, and MedPAC data), LegalClarity Hospice Statistics (April 2026).
This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.