Advance Directives |

Advance Directive

 

Planning Your Living Will

An advance directive (also known as a living will) is a way to make sure that your wishes are known. It is an unpleasant thought, but what if you became too sick to tell the doctor what you want your care to be? Creating a living will allows you to communicate your wishes and make medical decisions in advance of care.

You can also name someone, known as a Medical Power of Attorney, to make those choices if you cannot.


Creating Your Living Will

Wellcare By Allwell Medicare recommends all of our plan members take the time to create a living will, designate a power of attorney and provide their advance directive to their primary care physician.

To learn more about creating your advance directive, please visit the Arkansas Health Care Association website.

Once you have completed your advance directive, ask your doctor to put the form in your file. You can also talk to your doctor about the decision making process of creating your living will or advance directive. Together, you can make decisions that will set your mind at ease.

If you should ever need or want to, you can change your advance directive at any time. You should make sure others know you have an advance directive. If you choose to designate a Medical Power of Attorney. That person should be made aware of your advance directive or living will as well.

With an advance directive, you can be sure that you are cared for as you wish, at a time when you cannot give the information. If you have signed an advance directive, and you believe that a doctor or hospital did not follow the instructions in it, you may file a complaint with the Arkansas Department of Health. If your directive is not being followed, you can call the state’s complaint line.

If you have questions please, contact Member Services.