The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
INSURANCE
Q: I have been thinking about what would happen to my family if I got seriously ill or worse. What do I need to protect my family and myself. A: The COVID19 pandemic is causing many people to give extra thought to what would happen to them and their families if they became seriously ill or worse. It is not only older folks who are facing these questions. Many young men and women are formalizing their wishes to protect their families, too. If you already have a will, life insurance and disability insurance in place, now is the time to pull out these documents and make sure they continue to reflect your wishes. Update the beneficiaries listed on all your life insurance policies including old insurance policies that you may not have looked at in years. Often, we find out too late that old policies list former spouses as beneficiaries or leave off recent additions to the family. If you have been putting off getting disability insurance or life insurance, now is a good time to get this done. Call me at 440-2555700 to set up an appointment to discuss your needs. I also believe everyone should put their health care decisions in writing just in case they are ever unable to speak for themselves. You will need the following: A Living Will which states which life sustaining medical treatments you would want or refuse if your life is in jeopardy and you are not able to express your wishes.
A Health Care or Medical Power of Attorney or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care which names a specific person to represent you. This will give this person the rights to: Make medical decisions that are not covered in your living will Enforce your healthcare wishes in court if necessary Hire and fire doctors and medical workers overseeing your treatment Access medical records Provide visitation rights If you already have these documents, I recommend you review them to ensure that they continue to accurately reflect your situation and wishes. If you do not have these documents, you can download Advance Directive forms online or contact your local office on aging, your state health department, or an attorney to learn more. In next week’s column, I will go over how you authorize someone to speak to Medicare or other health insurer on your behalf. Got questions on insurance? Call or email me. I will help you find a plan that works for you. My email is Lmutsko@ mutskoinsurance.com or call 440255-5700. Laura Mutsko Mutsko Insurance Services, LLC 6982 Spinach Drive, Mentor, OH 44060 440-255-5700 www.mutskoinsurance.com