Health care is a hot topic throughout the country right now. With Congress about to increase our health care costs, there are those of us who wonder how we can absorb another financial burden. Perhaps, it is time to examine, in depth, our living will and/or medical power of attorney.
Here's the question you should ask:
Does my agent know what I want if I'm confronted with a life threatening situation?
If you haven't reviewed your health care directive lately, now is the time. Actually, you should review the directive every two years, or in the following cases:
- If you are a Pennsylvania resident, did you sign a living will or medical power of attorney prior to 2007? If so, a change in the law occurred that makes it more important that you review your documents.
- Has your marital status changed?
- Is your appointed representative still available, willing, and able to perform these duties?
- Has your health deteriorated since the directive was written?
When it comes to a medical power of attorney, consider the following:
- A medical power of attorney goes into effect immediately after it is executed and delivered to your agent, but your agent only makes decisions if you are not capable of communicating your wishes.
- How much power did you give your agent? Did you want to grant your agent the power to override your healthcare directive?
- Is your agent still available, capable, and willing to make your medical decisions?
- Do you have an alternate agent? Is your alternate still available, capable, and willing to make your medical decisions in the event that your primary agent cannot?
If you do not have a health care directive or a medical power of attorney, now is the time to have them written. With the frenzied push for significant health care reform, it is extremely important to make sure that your appointed representative knows your wishes and will be able to stand firm and abide by them.
Lastly, make sure that you contact your senator or congressman regarding how you feel about the proposed health care reform. Let your voice be heard.
If you would like more information about Pennsylvania Elder Law, Business Law or Tax Law, please contact an experienced Pennsylvania Attorney who is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) via email or phone us at (724) 216.6551 at our Greensburg, Pennsylvania office.
The Iezzi Law Office serves clients in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Greensburg, Pittsburgh, Delmont, Monroeville, Latrobe, Irwin, Uniontown, Connellsville, Indiana, Somerset, including Westmoreland County, Allegheny County, Fayette County, Indiana County, and Somerset County.
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