The short answer
Planning ahead can reduce the financial, legal, and emotional burdens your family may face later. Steps include completing advance directives, checking your insurance, organizing important records, and, if you wish, sharing your funeral or memorial preferences.
Careful planning reduces the financial, legal, and emotional burdens your family may face later.
Completing advance directives keeps you in control of your care decisions.
Check with your insurance company before starting new treatment or hospice.
Organizing records and telling family where to find them makes things easier for loved ones.
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The full explanation.
Why planning ahead helps
Thinking about the future can feel stressful, but there comes a time when it is helpful to make certain decisions. Careful planning reduces the financial, legal, and emotional burdens your family will face after you are gone.
For many people, it is hard to bring up these subjects. But talking about them now can avoid problems later. Taking these steps is also a way of caring for the people you love.
Complete your advance directives
If you have not done so already, it is important to fill out advance directives. These are legal papers that tell your loved ones and doctors what to do for you if you cannot tell them yourself.
Making these decisions now keeps you in control of how you want to be treated, and who you choose to be in charge of your care. By filling out advance directives, you are making your wishes known for all to follow. Doing so can also give your loved ones peace of mind.
Update your insurance
Contact your health insurance company if you decide to try a new treatment or go into hospice. Most insurance plans cover hospice. They may also cover brief home visits from a nurse or a home health aide several times a week.
It is wise to ask in advance. Checking your coverage early may prevent payment problems later.
Put your affairs in order
You can help your family by organizing records, insurance policies, documents, and instructions. You may want to call a lawyer or financial planner to make sure you have taken all the right steps. Your bank can answer questions about how to change accounts and credit cards.
Some helpful steps include:
- Make a list of where your family can find important papers.
- Keep your papers in a fireproof box or with a lawyer.
- If your papers are in a safety deposit box, make sure a family member or friend can access it.
- Although original documents are needed for legal purposes, give family members photocopies.
Papers your family may need
You may not need everything on this list, but it can serve as a guide. Write down contact information and what needs to be done for:
- banks, savings, and loans
- safety deposit box information
- life insurance company
- health insurance company
- homeowners' or renters' insurance company
- attorneys
- accountant
- pension or retirement plans
- investment companies
- credit card companies
- employer
Gathering these details in one place can spare your loved ones a great deal of searching and stress later on.
Sharing your wishes for a service
If it feels right to you, you may want to help your family plan a funeral or memorial service that has meaning to you. Although this may seem hard, planning it ahead of time can help your loved ones after your death. It eases the burden of having to make these choices themselves during a time of strong emotions and stress.
Some people plan services that are celebrations, while others prefer something more subdued. There is no single right way. If you would like to, talk with your family about the type of service you would want. And remember, you do not have to take all of these steps at once, or alone; your health care team, a social worker, a lawyer, or a financial planner can help.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸Why plan ahead financially and legally?
Thinking about the future can feel stressful, but careful planning reduces the financial, legal, and emotional burdens your family will face after you are gone. For many people it is hard to bring up these subjects, but talking about them now can avoid problems later.
▸What should I do about advance directives?
If you have not already, it is important to fill out advance directives. These are legal papers that tell your loved ones and doctors what to do for you if you cannot tell them yourself. Making these decisions now keeps you in control of how you want to be treated and who is in charge of your care.
▸What about my insurance?
Contact your health insurance company if you decide to try a new treatment or go into hospice. Most plans cover hospice, and may also cover brief home visits from a nurse or home health aide several times a week. Ask in advance to help prevent payment problems later.
▸How can I organize my affairs?
You can help your family by organizing records, insurance policies, documents, and instructions. You may want to call a lawyer or financial planner. Make a list of where important papers are, keep them in a safe place, and give family members photocopies while keeping originals secure.
▸What papers might my family need?
You may not need everything, but a helpful guide includes information for banks and savings, safety deposit boxes, life and health insurance, home insurance, attorneys, accountants, pension or retirement plans, investment companies, credit card companies, and your employer.
▸Should I plan a funeral or memorial service?
Only if it feels right to you. Some people want to help plan a service that has meaning to them. Doing this ahead of time can ease the burden on loved ones during a time of strong emotions. You can talk with your family about the type of service you would like.
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