What to know about palliative care

Living with a serious illness or life-limiting injury can be overwhelming. Palliative care can help ease your pain and alleviate stress. It provides extra layers of physical and emotional support to help improve quality of life for you and your loved ones.

How we help

If you need help coordinating palliative care or understanding your benefits, one of our care managers can assist you—as well as provide support.

When it’s needed

Palliative care can be appropriate at any age and any stage of a serious illness or injury. Some of the most common situations where you might need it include cancer, COPD, heart disease, Parkinson’s and stroke.*

*This is not an exhaustive list

What’s included

You’ll have access to a variety of services, including caregiver support; advance care planning; home health medical support for pain and symptom management; and psychological support, including family counseling.

Find telehealth support through Vynca

Asuris members have access to Vynca, a care team that provides extra support alongside your doctors. You can reach out to them through phone or video 24 hours a day for help with everything from symptom management to transportation services and more.

When hospice helps

When your goals change from curative to comfort care, hospice may be a good option. Hospice care brings together compassionate people, including medical professionals and spiritual counselors, to support you at home, in an assisted living facility or in long-term care.

Palliative care vs. hospice

Both kinds of care are compassionate, patient centered and family oriented for different stages of living. Your provider can help you decide what kind of support you may need.

Palliative care

For people living with a serious illness or recovering from a major injury

For people receiving curative & therapeutic treatment

Offers care manager support; home health medical & psychological support; advance care planning; caregiver support

Hospice

For people at the end stages of life with fewer than six months to live

For people who are no longer receiving curative treatment

Offers pain management medication & supplies; spiritual & emotional support; family & caregiver support

Caregiver support

Taking care of someone can be overwhelming, especially when their needs are complex. Learn how your loved one can give you permission to communicate with us about their health care. Plus, find extra resources and support.

We’re here for you

If you have questions about palliative care, we’re here to help. Sign in to chat online or call us at the number on the back of your member ID card.

The palliative care program is offered at no additional cost to our Medicare Advantage PPO members. These services are also accessible whether or not an individual is seeking hospice care.

Last updated 11/12/2024
Y0062_2025_MEDICARE