Medicare Benefits For The Terminally Ill When I talk to people with Medicare about planning for the end of their lives, the statistic that always strikes me is this: If you ask people where they’d rather die – in a hospital or at home – 75 percent say at home and 25 percent say the hospital. But when you look at what actually happens, only 25 percent of people get to die at home, while 75 percent pass away in hospitals. The only way you can ensure that your doctor understands your wishes is by talking about them.