Have you ever encountered a situation where a healthcare power of attorney made a significant difference? What guidance would you offer to someone thinking about setting one up?
Answered by 11 licensed agents
In the case of a customer with a strong preference that a family member make the decision for them, it is essential to have a power of attorney in place by Medicare's guidelines. We always say we will "get around to it" but the truth is you must make it a priority. Schedule it on the calendar and get it handled because once you are in a crisis situation, without one, your family member will need to go to court.
Absolutely recommend it. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states that over 70% of all Americans 65 and older will require some type of assisted care, such as long term care do to strokes, dementia, Parkinson's Disease, MS, etc. Also recommended retirees get a long term care policy to cover the expensive costs of long-term care.
I have personally seen the benefit to having a Medical Power of Attorney. My father in law granted my wife POA as he was getting progressively worse from CKD. Having the ability to make decisions when he was no longer able to or interested in it was very helpful. However, there is another feature that many people don't consider. Senior citizens are a favorite target of unscrupulous agents and call centers. They will call and tell the person just about anything to get them to change Advantage plans or just give up their Medicare number. If a trusted person has POA for the individual, then a change can't be made without the POA approving it. This protects our senior citizens when they are their most vulnerable.
In addition to a POA, everyone should have a living will and the multiple DNRs required to make sure their wishes are respected. Doctors, Hospitals, and first responders will all want to see a DNR, otherwise they will try to save everyone. Check in your state to be sure.
Yes, when peoples health fail, and they are unable to make quality decisions regarding their healthcare themselves having a predetermined third party assisting can make a big difference. It provides peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be respected, and reduces family conflicts. It also makes a court having to intervene less likely. Which can be costly an complex.
Medical Power of Attorney is one of the best options a Senior can make. If a Senior has a life threatening medical condition or becomes mentally incapacitated and is incapable of making needed decisions for themselves, a family member or loved one can be appointed Medical Power Attorney to make their pre desired decision for them.
The healthcare POA is a protector hired usually due to a complaint surrounding a Medicare regulation. However, the most commonplace dilemma is when a person develops a cognitive disorder and cannot take the best of care for him/herself anymore. This will normally involve the use of a homecare aide who is hired to cook, clean, shop, etc. but is NOT an RN. This is covered by a long-term care (LTC) or a recovery care (used to be called short-term care) program. The fact is if you reconcile your checking account on a monthly basis, once a problem develops, a special accountant (CPA) is hired to watch over your expenses. This is a legal process which would be extremely helpful for you.
But ALSO please take into account your assets (car, furniture, etc.) and if you have a significant estate and you have seen a trust attorney, that was an excellent idea. I don't believe that you'd need to do anything else along those lines since your home is possibly your #1 asset which needs to be protected. Unfortunately, there are many families that I have encountered who have a tough time with some family members; jealousies can be rampant and it's a good idea to check with other family members to investigate if there may be one member who has purposely hidden something from you which entails your own properties. But if you cannot think of anyone that fits that description, now it is time to just participate in a FREE consultation with a trust attorney to determine if your estate is truly worth protecting. But if you have very few assets, other than your car and your furniture, it might not be particularly necessary for you to consider anything more. Good luck, though!
Yes I have, and in ALL of my experiences it was a good thing. If someone is in a position where they are able to have a loved one be power of attorney over them it usually is because they are unable to see the full picture of how to manage their healthcare. I don’t say this lightly but some of my clients can be “stubborn” when deciding what plan to get on and may see a small benefit or allowance as a good reason to select a plan while displacing the fact that there may be a deductible, lack of providers, excessive co-insurance for needed services etc.. Seeing the big picture is crucial and the person most invested in the overall health of an individual is usually most qualified to make an enrollment decision between a bad/good plan.
A medical power of attorny can be helpful for a family member to have more open discussions with the patient's medical and insurance providers. In Texas, a power of attorney can be set up using just a standard form and a notary. However, this can be revoked at any time, and can be complicated if more than one family member wishes to be involved. In cases of dementia, mental illness, or serious chronic health issues, a legal medical guardianship holds more power, but requires an attorney to go through the court system.
crucial legal document that designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. It can significantly impact your life and the lives of your loved ones in various situations, Preventing Family Conflicts, Ensuring Your Wishes are Respected, Avoiding Court Intervention, Providing Peace of Mind, Enabling Timely Decision-Making.
Yes, these make an extreme difference in the event you are incapacitated unexpectedly, and important health decisions need to be made. Make sure your wishes are known in the event you can't make these decisions yourself.
Yes, I have come across several situation in my 20 years experience where power of attorney was very important. I would advise people to get one in place before you think it is necessary. Without it Medical decisions are much more difficult.
