End-of-life discussions with your physician or other licensed caregiver are now being paid for by Medicare. Talking about your wishes and the kind of health care you want to receive at the end of your life is probably not at the top of your bucket list, but such discussions could be very important. Photo by Jim Young/Reuters

by Philip Moeller

“End-of-life discussions with your physician or other licensed caregiver are now being paid for by Medicare — one of the program’s major consumer changes taking effect this year. Thinking and talking about your wishes and the kind of health care you want to receive at the end of your life are probably not at the top of your bucket list, or anywhere close, but such discussions could be very important.

“A big chunk of health care spending occurs in the final months of a person’s life, and it often brings very little benefit. While Medicare covers a lot of these expenses, particularly through its extensive coverage of hospice services, families are also on the hook for a lot of this end-of-life spending. Beyond dollars, the emotional burden of helping a loved one in their final days often is enormous.”

Continue reading this PBS Newshour report, click here.