The news is filled with frustration and anger towards the healthcare industry, and rightfully so. Amid this turmoil, it’s more important than ever to ensure your voice is heard. By planning ahead and documenting your wishes, you’re taking the proactive steps needed to ensure your values are honored, and that your loved ones are spared the stress of making difficult decisions without clear guidance. Planning for the future isn’t a sign of weakness, but an act of strength, ensuring that your health and your legacy are protected.
Why Planning Ahead Matters
Healthcare situations can change without warning. Accidents happen, illnesses occur, and sometimes we are unable to communicate our preferences. When your wishes aren’t clearly documented, families often struggle to make decisions that honor your values and beliefs. With proper planning, you can ensure your healthcare decisions are met, and remove unnecessary stress from the lives of your loved ones.
Essential Documents to Consider
To ensure that your wishes are respected you need to make those wishes known and legally binding. Here are some documents that you need to consider:
- Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will): This allows you to state your preferences for end-of-life care. It ensures your values guide your treatment, even if you are unable to communicate them yourself.
- Medical Power of Attorney: This document appoints a trusted individual to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This ensures your decisions are followed.
Beyond Documentation: Conversations and Transparency
While having the correct documentation is essential, these documents need to be paired with transparent communication with the people who are going to be making the decisions. The documentation is not just about you, it is also a tool to make decision-making more clear and easy on your loved ones.
- Discuss Your Wishes: Have open and honest conversations with your family and loved ones about your preferences and values surrounding healthcare and end-of-life care. This will remove any confusion, and allow you to choose the correct agent.
- Choose the Right Agents: Select agents who you trust and who will advocate for you, based on your wishes. Ensure they understand your values, and that they will see them honored.
- Keep Your Documents Updated: Review your healthcare documents periodically, and make sure that all information and contact information is current.
Wills.com: Your Partner in Planning
With all that is going on in the healthcare industry today, you need a way to easily and conveniently secure your healthcare planning. Wills.com is committed to providing tools that allow you to have agency over your own health. We offer the following:
- State-Specific Documents: Create legally valid Medical Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directives, customized to meet the laws in your state.
- Secure Storage via Vaultly™: Securely store all of your important documents using our secure encrypted vault.
- Affordable Tools: Our online platform simplifies the legal process and makes important legal planning more affordable for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What if my family disagrees with my healthcare choices?
- A: Having your wishes clearly documented can reduce disagreement, and your chosen agent can advocate for your preferences.
- Q: Does a Living Will cover every possible scenario?
- A: A Living Will allows you to document your most important preferences, but does not cover every situation. It’s important to discuss your wishes with your medical advocate to ensure that they know how you would want to proceed in any situation.
- Q: What if I change my mind?
- A: You can update or revoke your healthcare documents at any time. It’s a good practice to review your documents annually, and update them to reflect your current values.
- Q: How does Wills.com simplify the legal planning process?
- A: Wills.com offers an easy to use online platform for creating your documents, and provides all of the necessary resources and guidance to walk you through the process.
Conclusion
In a world that feels increasingly unstable, with anger over healthcare becoming more pronounced, it’s now more vital than ever to plan ahead for your own healthcare journey. Ensuring that your wishes are respected provides peace of mind and protects your loved ones from the stress and uncertainty of difficult healthcare decisions. With tools like Wills.com, you can take control of your future by proactively documenting your preferences and ensuring your voice is always heard. Planning for the future is an act of self-empowerment that everyone should take part in.
Ready to secure your health planning? Explore our healthcare forms with Wills.com today!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For personalized guidance, consult an attorney or visit the Wills.com Learning center.
