Written By: Valerie Hollar, Drafting Paralegal [medical power of attorney]
Summary: As you pack for your summer vacations, ensuring you are prepared for unexpected medical situations is just as important as bringing the essentials. This guide outlines how to locate, digitize, and share your medical power of attorney documents so your trusted representatives can act quickly in an emergency. Taking these proactive steps gives you peace of mind and protects your healthcare wishes across state lines or international borders.
Summer has arrived and it is time to travel! Vacations, destination weddings, visiting family, you name it, you, or someone you know is traveling somewhere this summer! While it is important to pack the sunscreen and your favorite sunglasses, do not forget it is also important to take your medical power of attorney documents along with you. With the steps below, you can make sure you are prepared for an emergency medical situation as you travel this summer season.
- Locate. Locate your healthcare documents and take a quick glance to make sure you know who you have appointed to help you in a medical emergency. This is especially important if you do not have someone you are traveling with named in your documents.
- Create. Create a digital copy of your healthcare documents if you have not already done so. Upload copies to your mobile wallet or somewhere you have mobile access to provide quick access if needed. This could even be a mobile email folder on your phone.
- Inform. Let those individuals appointed know of your travel plans and that they are named as your healthcare representative(s). Provide a digital copy to those named so they can email medical professionals on your behalf if needed. Let both your appointed healthcare representatives and those you are traveling with know where you are keeping your digital copies as well.
- Portability. Make sure your health care wishes are portable. This means doing a little homework to check state and local guidelines for where you are traveling to see what might be required for someone that does not live there in case of a medical emergency. Most healthcare power of attorney documents are accepted across state lines, but sometimes healthcare systems may have their own state specific or local requirements. Traveling abroad? Different countries may also have different regulations. It never hurts to inquire!
- Prepare. While we most often think of healthcare emergencies when asked what unexpected situations can happen when we travel, keep in mind that other emergencies can happen while you are away! Check in with those individuals that you have appointed in your financial powers of attorney and other estate planning documents before you head off to let them know of your travel plans and how to access your documents so they are also prepared should something unexpected occur.
- Pack. It’s never a bad idea to throw a paper copy of your medical documents in your suitcase. But remember, luggage can sometimes get lost and go on an adventure of its own! Having your documents easily accessible digitally in an emergency will help to ease an already stressful situation. However, if you prefer to have a paper copy with you, make sure to pack the copies in your carryon bag or in something you will always have with you.
As always, we are here to help! As you prepare to head to the beach or that far off destination this summer and find that you need us, please reach out! If we have not met yet and you do not have healthcare documents or an estate plan in place, now is a great time to prepare for your future travels. We would love to meet with you to discuss your goals. Wishing you a wonderful safe summer full of new adventures!
A little preparation now ensures you can focus on making memories rather than managing a crisis. Before you load up the car or head to the airport, take a few minutes to secure your peace of mind.
Your Pre-Trip Action Items:
- Locate & Digitize: Find your current documents and save a digital copy to your smartphone’s mobile wallet or secure email folder.
- Communicate: Share those digital copies with your designated healthcare representatives and let your travel companions know how to access them.
- Update or Create: If you don’t have a medical power of attorney in place, or if your documents are outdated, get them finalized before you leave.
As always, we are here to help! As you prepare to head to the beach or that far-off destination this summer and find that you need us, please reach out! If we have not met yet and you do not have healthcare documents or an estate plan in place, now is a great time to prepare for your future travels.
We would love to meet with you to discuss your goals—click here to schedule a consultation with Indiana Estate & Elder Law today.
Wishing you a wonderful, safe summer full of new adventures!