To qualify for medical aid in dying, you must meet all of the following criteria:
• Be an adult (18 years or older)
• Be a resident of a state where medical aid in dying is authorized, or be physically present in a state that allows non-residents to participate
• Have a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less
• Have the mental capacity to make your own healthcare decisions
• Make the request voluntarily and independently
• Be able to self-administer the prescribed medication

Important to Know: You don’t need to prove you’re suffering or have a specific plan to take the medication to qualify. You’re never required to use it— eligibility simply gives you the option.

Start early: The verification process can take longer than the required waiting period. Beginning early to find providers and complete eligibility steps can help ease stress and avoid last‑minute urgency.

Why Why Hospice Matters
Hospice provides expert care to ease symptoms and relieve pain throughout your illness. It’s covered by Medicare and most private insurance, often with little or no out‑of‑pocket cost. Hospice teams address physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in the final phase of life and support your loved ones. They help ensure a safe, comfortable, and peaceful death, no matter how you die.

Choosing the Right Hospice
Not all hospices provide the same level of support for medical aid in dying. Ask whether their clinicians can serve as the attending or prescribing provider, if staff are trained and permitted to prepare the medications, and whether they can stay at the bedside to offer support. Also ask if non‑oral medication routes can be managed, and what additional costs may apply if outside providers are needed.

Remember: Being eligible for hospice does not automatically mean you qualify for medical aid in dying. If you’re not yet eligible, ask your team when a reassessment might be appropriate.

1. Find an attending provider and make your first request: Begin by locating a clinician who is permitted and willing to serve as your attending (prescribing) provider. Once you make your first verbal request, the provider documents it, confirms you meet all legal requirements (prognosis, capacity, residency), ensures your choice is voluntary, and reviews all end‑of‑life care options with you.
2. Consulting provider evaluation: A second clinician independently reviews your records, meets with you, and confirms eligibility.
3. Additional capacity assessments: If required by law or if there are questions about decision‑making capacity, a mental health professional will complete an additional evaluation.
4. Written request: Some states require a signed, witnessed written request form.
5. Language attestation (if needed): If translation or interpreter support is used, an additional form may confirm that you received information and gave consent in your preferred language.
6. Waiting period: A mandatory waiting period applies, with timing that varies by state. In some places, it begins after your first request; in others, after the prescription is issued. The waiting period may be shortened if it appears you may not survive the full duration.
7. Second verbal request and final steps: Your attending provider will take a second verbal request (some states require it to be audio or video recorded), offer final counseling, answer any remaining questions, and then issue the prescription, which can be safely held in the pharmacy until it is needed.

*Note: To ensure a safe and peaceful process, ask your attending/prescriber to communicate with the care team that will be following you through your death, typically hospice.

There are three main sources of attending providers (prescribers) for medical aid in dying, though availability varies by region. They differ in response times, costs, and bedside services provided.
1. Large Medical Organizations
• Visits are usually covered by insurance and may occur in person or by telehealth.
• Appointments can take time to schedule.
• Bedside support is uncommon, though referrals to hospices, doulas, or volunteers may be offered.
2. Hospices (that permit prescribers)
• Services are covered by Medicare or insurance; direct separate billing is not allowed.
• Admission, transfer, and care planning may take time to arrange.
• Bedside support varies—some hospices train and prepare their staff, allow them to prepare the medications, manage non-oral routes, and remain bedside during ingestion. Some do not.
3. Independent Physicians
• Offer home visits, personalized bedside care, and fast response.
• Can manage non‑oral medication routes.
• Charge a flat fee, often on a sliding scale; few can bill insurance.

*Medication Costs
The aid-in-dying medications typically cost $600–$800 out of pocket, regardless of provider type.

Skilled Nursing Facilities
May legally prohibit patients from taking aid‑in‑dying medication within their facilities, but cannot interfere with or prevent patients from seeking or being evaluated for this care.

Assisted Living and Other Residential Care Facilities
Residents have the right to make their own choices within their apartments or rooms, though facility staff may decline to manage medications. In smaller settings, such as board‑and‑care homes, this decision can be stressful for staff unless discussed well in advance.

Alternative Arrangements
Some patients choose to spend their final days in a friend’s or family member’s home. Short‑term rentals or hotels may also be possible. As a matter of courtesy and ethics, the property owner should be informed beforehand that a seriously ill person will be staying there and may die on the premises.

You must be physically present in the aid‑in‑dying state to make requests, complete evaluations, obtain, and take the medications—out‑of‑state doctors cannot prescribe while you remain at home. Carefully weigh the financial, physical, and emotional impacts of travel: while consultations or hospice may be covered by insurance, expenses such as medication, lodging, and transportation often are not. Leaving familiar surroundings while seriously ill can also be difficult for you and your loved ones.

Medications generally cannot be taken across state lines (except in limited areas near Oregon or Vermont), and transporting them from a non‑legal state could expose helpers to legal risk.

Because your condition may change unexpectedly, consider arranging hospice care in both your home state and chosen aid‑in‑dying state. Once you qualify, plan to arrive 5–7 days before taking the medication to allow time for assessments, preparation, and support—ideally before becoming significantly weaker.

Oregon and Vermont: No longer require residency. Patients from other states may qualify if they meet all clinical criteria and complete every required step while physically in those states.

Other Aid‑in‑Dying States: (Washington, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, District of Columbia, New York, Illinois, Delaware, Montana). Residency can often be established by showing legal ties to the state, rather than length of time in the state. Proof may include a state driver’s license or ID, voter registration, lease or property deed, state tax return, or recent utility or insurance documents showing an in‑state address.

Medical aid in dying cannot be included in an advance care directive, and making detailed plans for it long before serious illness develops is not practical. Your preferences are very likely to change as your health changes. If your doctors determine that you do not currently have a life‑limiting illness or a prognosis of six months or less, it can still be very helpful to share your thoughts, hopes, and concerns about the end of life with your healthcare team. If managing symptoms becomes difficult, palliative care may help improve your quality of life. When you are closer to meeting the legal criteria, you can consider exploring hospice care as described above. The Academy can offer guidance and referrals when that time comes.

Being eligible for medical aid in dying does not mean you must take the medication, and it is normal for your plans to change as your end‑of‑life process unfolds.
Whenever possible, ask the pharmacy to hold the medication until you have a clear plan. You are not charged until it is dispensed, and it is safer for the pharmacy to store these powerful medications than to keep them at home. Most pharmacies can deliver within a few days, giving you and your loved ones time to prepare emotionally and feel at peace.
If your pain or other symptoms become hard to manage, contact your hospice team first. They can ease your discomfort and help you avoid feeling rushed.
When the time feels right, plan the day with care. Having a knowledgeable clinician prepare and administer the medication allows your loved ones to focus on love and presence rather than on medical details.
For a safe, peaceful process, ask your attending or prescriber to coordinate with the hospice or care team who will support you through your death.