So palliative care can be for pain relief and comfort during treatment, in my understanding. The patient is still on regular Medicare or insurance.

Hospice care is for when you have stopped treatment, and there is special hospice Medicare (or if under 65 regular insurance).

It sounds like in your area maybe "palliative" care is only for hospice patients. In our area we also have "bridge to hospice" which is palliative and starts you with hospice nurses and aides so that transition is quick and easy when treatment ends and hospice begins.

Palliative and hospice services- either- are very helpful and supportive. Can you talk to an area hospice organization about beginning palliative care? Studies have shown that people get a little extra time with this support, and there is a lot of support for you as well. (Once on hospice, support for you and her includes a nurse, social worker and chaplain to talk to.)