A Health Care Proxy (also called a Medical Power of Attorney or Health Care Representative) is a legal document that lets you appoint a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to communicate or make those decisions yourself. Without one, doctors and hospitals may turn to family members or courts to make critical medical choices, which may not align with your wishes.

Both are advance directives, but they serve different purposes. A Health Care Proxy appoints someone to make medical decisions for you, while a Living Will expresses your specific wishes about end-of-life care and life-sustaining treatments. Gentreo's Health Care Proxy includes both components in one document, so you can name your agent and document your treatment preferences.

A Health Care Proxy is also known as a Medical Power of Attorney, Power of Attorney Medical, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, or Advance Health Care Directive. Click here to learn what this document is called in each state. 

Most everyone 18 or older, especially those persons who have been diagnosed with a serious health condition. You need a Health Care Proxy so that the most intimate decisions involving your health are decided by someone you trust, in the event that you cannot make and/or communicate your wishes.

Yes, each state has a different form with a different set of requirements. However, the basic principle is the same for all states.

Yes. A financial Power of Attorney handles money, property, and legal matters, while a Health Care Proxy handles only medical decisions. They're separate documents because they cover different types of authority. Most people need both to ensure all aspects of their life are covered if they become incapacitated.

With a Health Care Power of Attorney or Health Care Proxy, you should consider the type of care and treatment you can receive, the care providers and doctors who may be assigned for the treatment, where you would live in your old age according to your financial status, and who will take care of you.

An Advance Directive is a document that you complete directing what you want to happen in regards to your medical treatment if you become incapacitated. A Power of Attorney for Health Care is a type of Advance Directive. Usually, Advance Directives refer to specific written instructions a person has written regarding what life sustaining treatment he/she wants.

In general, a standard Health Care Proxy/Medical Power of Attorney does not grant your agent authority regarding mental health treatment. Some states’ laws have allowed a person to designate an agent for mental health treatment. If you would like your agent to make decisions regarding mental health treatment or have specific wishes, you should still document it within your Health Care Proxy. It could be used as evidence in a court proceeding.

Choose someone who knows your values, can handle stressful medical situations, communicates well with doctors and family, and will respect your wishes even if they disagree. This is often a spouse, adult child, sibling, or close friend. Avoid choosing someone who lives far away or who might struggle to make difficult decisions under pressure.

Yes. You can name co-agents to make decisions together, or designate a primary agent with successor agents who step in if the first person is unavailable. Many people name a primary agent and at least one backup to ensure someone is always available in an emergency.

Your agent can make most medical decisions, including choosing doctors and hospitals, consenting to or refusing treatments, deciding on surgery, selecting medications, and determining care settings. You can also give specific instructions or limitations in your Health Care Proxy about the types of decisions you want your agent to handle.

Without a Health Care Proxy, doctors may rely on family consensus or court-appointed guardians to make medical decisions for you. This can lead to family disputes, delays in treatment, and decisions that don't reflect your wishes. The process is often stressful and expensive for your loved ones during an already difficult time.