Making smart healthcare choices

Planning for something in the future isn’t a new concept. You can also use this idea to prepare for your health care and end-of-life decisions. This helps make things easier for your family when they have to make choices later on.

Finding a new provider

There are many reasons you may need to find a new provider for yourself or your family. Maybe you moved to a new city, your doctor retired, or they’re no longer included in your insurance plan. Whatever the case, here are some recommendations to think about when looking for a new one.

First, you may want to look at your insurance benefit website to see what doctors are included in your plan. Then you may want to think about their location and type of care, whether primary or specialty. Lastly, it’s important to know if they’re accepting new patients.

Flexible spending or health savings accounts

A flexible spending account (FSA) and a health savings account (HSA) are two options to think about when looking at the following year’s medical expenses.

Both accounts offer a tax benefit as the money is set aside before taxes to pay for eligible medical and dependent care expenses. Every year you can add to each account. The maximum amount is limited by the Internal Revenue Service.

Keep in mind that the money in an FSA has to be used on eligible expenses during the calendar year or you lose it. Money in an HSA may be rolled over to the following year for qualified expenses.

Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is for all adults over the age of 18--not just for those of a certain age or who are living with serious illness. Life is uncertain. We can all start having the conversation now about who and what is important to us if we had a sudden or unexpected event.

The most common advance care planning document is an advance directive. This legal document outlines your preferences if you should become seriously ill and unable to make decisions for yourself.

This document helps you name who you would trust to guide your care. That helps ensure that your health care is guided by what you’d want for quality of life.

These documents are completed for who you are today. You can update them at any time when life circumstances and preferences change.

If you already have advance care planning documents, it’s helpful to review your preferences and wishes regarding your future care so that you can understand how your provider can support you.

Having a conversation with your loved ones about your wishes can be one of the biggest gifts to give yourself and your family.

Not sure where to start? PeaceHealth is here to support you with both in-person and online classes to walk you through the process.

With a bit of planning, the future of your healthcare may go much smoother.