Why Donating to Hospice Care Matters

Death is a difficult subject, often shrouded in silence and fear. But for those facing the end of life, hospice care offers comfort and dignity. However, this crucial service relies heavily on financial support, especially if you live in New York.

Without immediate philanthropic support, thousands more New Yorkers will face end-of-life care without the comfort and dignity they deserve. Your gift can change this reality.

New York’s Underutilization of Hospice Care

New York faces a unique challenge when it comes to hospice care: it has the lowest utilization rate in the nation, with only 24% of Medicare decedents utilizing the benefit compared to the national average of 43.2%.1 This means thousands of New Yorkers, particularly from underserved communities, are potentially missing out on the comfort and support hospice care offers at the end of life.

Why is this happening? Research suggests several contributing factors:

  • Lack of awareness: Many patients and families, especially in underserved communities, are unaware of hospice care options or have misconceptions about the service.
  • Cultural and religious beliefs: Some cultures or religious groups may have reservations about hospice, viewing it as a sign of giving up on treatment. In fact, hospice care is typically culturally sensitive and centers on a patient’s beliefs and background.
  • Navigating the system: The application process for hospice can be complex and confusing, especially for those with limited resources or language barriers.
  • Limited access to providers: Disparities exist in access to hospice care, particularly for rural areas and communities with limited transportation options.
  • Lack of caregiver support: Beyond financial hurdles, caregivers facing a loved one’s hospice journey often battle emotional burdens, logistical struggles, and cultural/familial tensions.

The Coverage Gap: Who Falls Through the Cracks

While Medicare and Medicaid cover hospice care, approximately 921,000 New Yorkers (4.8% of the population) remain uninsured,2 and significant gaps exist even for those with coverage. Communities of color face disproportionate insurance barriers, with 10.6% of Hispanic New Yorkers, 6% of Asian residents, and 5.9% of Black residents lacking insurance coverage.3

Source: Health Journalism Resource Center, 2024; NY State Comptroller, 2023

Even with insurance coverage, critical gaps remain:

  • Co-pays and deductibles: Even with insurance, some patients may face co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs that create a barrier to accessing care.4
  • Limited services covered: Medicare and Medicaid may not cover all the services a patient needs, such as specialized therapies, extended bereavement counseling, or enhanced emotional support. Caregiver support is also very limited or nonexistent under standard benefits.
  • Services not covered by government programs: Culturally sensitive outreach, complex care coordination, creative arts therapy, enhanced spiritual support, and many other services that improve quality of life require philanthropic funding.

These gaps leave families facing impossible choices between financial stability and quality end-of-life care for their loved ones. While hospices provide care regardless of ability to pay, this charity care is only possible through donor support.5

The Impact of Your Donation

Donations to hospice care programs have a transformative impact on individuals and families facing the end of life in New York, especially those from underserved communities. Here’s how your support makes a difference:

  • Your support can enable outreach programs: Donations help fund culturally connected care and ensure underserved communities—including the 921,000 uninsured New Yorkers—have equal access to compassionate end-of-life care.
  • Your gift bridges the financial gap: Donations cover co-pays, deductibles, or additional services not covered by insurance, removing financial barriers and ensuring everyone receives the care they need without the burden of medical debt.
  • Your contribution expands access and support: Contributions help provide transportation assistance, in-home care, and other support services for caregivers, removing logistical hurdles and ensuring patients can comfortably access care regardless of their circumstances.
  • Your generosity supports caregivers: Donations help fund support groups, respite services, and extended bereavement counseling—services that Medicare and Medicaid do not adequately cover. This support eases emotional strains, simplifies logistics, and bridges communication gaps, allowing caregivers to provide loving care without sacrificing their own well-being.

Your Gift Creates Dignity at the End of Life

Your donation today directly funds the compassionate care that allows patients to die with dignity and families to grieve without financial burden. In New York, where hospice utilization is lowest in the nation and nearly one million residents lack insurance, every gift moves us closer to ensuring no one faces the end of life alone or in unnecessary suffering.

When it comes to supporting hospice care, the sum is more significant than its parts. By donating to hospice care organizations in New York, like MJHS Hospice, you’re not just making a financial contribution; you’re making a difference in the lives of individuals and families during their most vulnerable times. You’re ensuring everyone can experience a peaceful and dignified ending, regardless of their background, insurance status, or financial situation.

Learn more about MJHS Hospice, a member of MJHS, a not-for-profit health system, or donate in support of the hospice care programs we provide in our community.

Resources:

1. Based on current state data showing improvement from historical rates. Between 2000-2003, New York had 18.7% hospice utilization compared to 27.2% national average. Gina Jenq and Diane E. Meier, “A Review of Barriers to Utilization of the Medicare Hospice Benefits in Urban Populations and Strategies for Enhanced Access,” Journal of Urban Health 85, no. 2 (March 2008): 281-290.

2. Association of Health Care Journalists, “New York Sources of Insurance Coverage,” Health Journalism Resource Center, January 2024.

3. Association of Health Care Journalists, “New York Sources of Insurance Coverage,” Health Journalism Resource Center, January 2024; New York State Office of the State Comptroller, “DiNapoli: As Share of New Yorkers Without Health Insurance Reached New Low, Disparities Persisted Among Black, Asian, and Latino Populations,” press release, August 2023.

4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “Hospice Care Coverage,” Medicare.gov, accessed December 2025. Medicare hospice copayments include up to $5 per prescription for pain/symptom management drugs and up to 5% of Medicare-approved amount for respite care.

5. Hospice of New York, “Who Pays for Hospice?” accessed December 2025, https://www.hospiceny.com/who-pays-hospice.