If you travel regularly, preparing for your next trip probably feels routine. You know to book flights, pack your essentials and double-check your itinerary. A health care proxy may not be part of that routine, yet it can be just as important as the travel documents you carry.
If an illness or injury leaves you unable to communicate, a health care proxy allows the person you choose to make health care decisions on your behalf. Whether you travel for business, to visit family or simply to explore new places, keeping this document current can help ensure someone you trust is authorized to make health care decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate.
Before you go
If travel is a regular part of your life, it makes sense to review your health care proxy from time to time. Before your next trip, consider taking a few simple steps:
- Choose a trusted person to serve as your health care agent.
- Review your health care proxy to confirm it still reflects your wishes.
- Tell your health care agent where to find the document.
- Keep the document in an easy-to-access location.
Taking these steps before you travel can help ensure your health care proxy is ready whenever you need it.
If the unexpected happens
A health care proxy allows you to name someone who can make medical decisions if you cannot make or communicate those decisions yourself. The document does not immediately authorize that person to make medical decisions on your behalf. Under Connecticut law, that authority begins only under the circumstances provided by state law.
At that point, your health care agent can communicate with medical providers and make health care decisions based on your expressed wishes. For that reason, many people choose someone who understands their values and is willing to accept that responsibility.
Keep your proxy accessible
A health care proxy can only serve its purpose if the right people know it exists and can access it when needed. If you travel often, make it a habit to keep the document where you and your health care agent can easily find it.
Many people keep a copy with their important records and another in a secure digital location they can access while away from home. Periodically reviewing where you store the document can help ensure it remains readily accessible whenever you travel.
Stay travel-ready
Frequent travelers often update passports, identification and emergency contacts as their circumstances change. A health care proxy deserves the same periodic review.
Reviewing your health care proxy periodically helps confirm that it continues to reflect your wishes. It also provides an opportunity to ensure it remains consistent with your broader estate planning documents, helping you stay prepared wherever your travels take you.