Advance Directives
As we go about our lives, it’s easy to overlook the possibility of unforeseen health complications or the need for end-of-life care. However, taking the time to engage in advance care planning is a gift to your loved ones that ensures your wishes are honored and provides peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.
What is an Advance Directive?
This is a document that ensures that both medical professionals and your loved ones understand the end-of-life decisions you want in the event you’re unable to explain them due to a medical emergency.
An advance directive is simply a statement, made while you are competent, about your preferences for medical care and the medical treatment you want if you can’t make those decisions later in the event you’re unable to communicate or make decisions for yourself due to severe injury or illness. This serves as a written expression of your wishes regarding the type of medical care you would like to receive. Decisions made early and communicated plainly may have tremendous value for you and your family amid the unexpected.
There are two common types of advance directives: a living will and a medical power of attorney. CHP’s advance directive of choice for its members is Five Wishes from Aging with Dignity, a national non-profit organization that defends the rights of people as they approach the end of life. Five Wishes is an advance care planning resource that includes both the medical power of attorney and a living will, along with other items that become important for your healthcare providers and family to know about.
Why Should I Use Five Wishes?
There are at least five reasons to use Five Wishes:
- It’s easy to use: Five Wishes is written in everyday language. You check what you do want, cross out what you don’t want and add as much or as little additional direction as you want. Your own wishes in your own words.
- It’s comprehensive: You designate the person you want to make health care decisions for you when you can’t speak for yourself, and you define and specify the kind of life support treatment you would want or not want. Five Wishes also allows you to describe how comfortable you want to be; how you want people to treat you; and what you want your loved ones to know. You can also change it as your situation or thinking changes. For those whose first language is not English, Five Wishes is available in 30 other languages.
- It helps guide the discussion: Five Wishes also helps start and structure the often difficult discussions about uncomfortable topics. The focus of discussion is on protecting your dignity, comfort and your personal, spiritual and family concerns.
- It’s a legal document: Your completed, signed and properly witnessed Five Wishes meets all Florida legal requirements for durable power of attorney for health care (Wish 1) and living will (Wish 2). And when you give copies of your completed form to others, such as your physician, family and caregivers, it gives them a more complete picture of all your desires.
- It brings peace of mind: When you complete your Five Wishes, you’ve truly given a gift to yourself and others. With Five Wishes, everybody’s on the same page. Nobody has to guess and second-guess because you’ve already clearly stated your wishes. Guilty feelings and stressful family conflict are avoided. Should the seriously ill person pass away, the family is consoled in that they knew and honored their loved ones wishes to the very end.
How to Obtain Your Copy of Five Wishes
You can download your copy of Five Wishes here or call Capital Health Plan’s Health Information Line at (850) 383-3400 to request a copy.
Through the Planning Early About Care at the End (PEACE) program, Big Bend Hospice offers individualized assistance in completing the Five Wishes Advanced Directive. To schedule an appointment with a PEACE facilitator, contact Big Bend Hospice at (850) 878-5310 or visit the Big Bend Hospice website.
In addition, Aging with Dignity provides daily assistance or guidance on advance care planning and help with navigating challenging circumstances. You can contact them by calling 1 888-5-WISHES (594-7437) Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Modifying or Revoking a Living Will
It’s significant to note that you have the flexibility to modify or revoke a living will at any time. Additionally, an advance directive will become effective only if you reach a point where you are no longer competent to make or communicate your health care decisions. To ensure accurate understanding and implementation of your wishes, it’s a good idea to share copies of your living will with your health care professional and discuss its directives with your family members.
Capital Health Plan Silver Advantage (HMO), Advantage Plus (HMO), Preferred Advantage (HMO), and Retiree Advantage (HMO) are HMO plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Capital Health Plan Silver Advantage, Advantage Plus, Preferred Advantage, and Retiree Advantage depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums, and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. The formulary, pharmacy network, and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary.
If you have questions, please call Member Services at (850) 523-7441 or 1 (877) 247-6512 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., seven days a week, October 1 – March 31; 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, April 1 – September 30. State of Florida members call 1 (877) 392-1532, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. TTY/TTD (850) 383-3534 or 1 (877) 870-8943.