If you have created a will, congratulations, you are on your way to developing a solid estate plan. Your plan will be even better if you add other tools like trusts and powers of attorney for financial matters.
You may not know this, but you can also address your future healthcare in your estate plan with advance medical directives. If you become too ill or injured to voice your wishes, advance directives inform doctors of the medical treatments you want to receive and those you do not.
Preserving your medical directives
Once you add healthcare directions to your estate plan, you want to ensure medical providers follow them. Typically, this means making your directives accessible. Below are four tips to inform those around you of your healthcare wishes, thus preserving them.
- Talk with those close to you. Let your family and friends know you have created healthcare directives and where to find them (safety deposit box, etc.).
- Review your directives regularly. It is common for people to change their minds about their healthcare, so go over your plan routinely and revise as necessary.
- Make several copies. Give copies of your advance directives to your doctor and the hospital, and keep one at home for easy access.
- Put a notice in your wallet. A short note stashed in your personal belongings informs emergency responders that you have directives in place and where to find them.
These tips ensure your estate plan always aligns with your current medical care wishes. Learn more about New York estate planning options to find other ways of protecting yourself and your family through all stages of life.