Your Healthcare FAQs

I know first hand that most people do not want to address this, however we are all faced with it.  The most responsible, considerate, and organized people get it done early and the rest of us just need to do it anyway for our family’s sake.

Once we have this all wrapped up and taken care of, we can go on with our lives with no weight on our shoulders knowing everything is in place for our family.  That way they do not have to face all those decisions and chaos at such an emotional time.

This checklist is in no strategic order, but a guideline of the most crucial things to consider.

1.  LISTS

• Credit cards, utility bills, account numbers, assets, Safe Deposit Boxes
• Groups, charities, memberships you belong to
• Friends and Family you want notified
• Belongings valued at over $100

2.  Personal/Legal Documents

• One location where you would keep your attorney contact information
• Select an Executor/Executrix and have a Will done if you haven’t already.  Keep a copy together with the following documents we advise you to have: Living Will, Power of Attorney, Durable Medical Power of Attorney
• Titles to vehicles
• Deeds to property/home
• Appraisals for any jewelry or any large value items
• Insurance Policies

***Let your Executor/POA/Attorney know where you are keeping these documents so they know right where to go for everything at that time.

3.  PLAN

• Write down or get down on paper your final wishes:

-What type of funeral? Burial or cremation?  Viewing or no viewing?  Graveside, chapel or church service/memorial?  Flowers?  Donations?  Attire?  Mementos?  Jewelry?

If you have any questions or would like a complimentary plan done (valued at $300), please contact me at michele.facini@gmail.com.

I would like to ask my readers to send in some Healthcare FAQs so that I can share that info. with other readers and get some answers for you!  My comment section isn’t working currently so email your questions to michele.facini@gmail.com or use my contact form by clicking HERE.  I will do a post with all of the questions next week.

I love a challenge so bring it on!

Do you know someone who has suffered a heart attack, stroke or cancer?  Was their quality of life affected in a negative way?  Do you know any young mothers or fathers who lost their spouses too early in life?

You hear it all the time….heart attack at 30, 40…..

Cancer in children, teens, young moms, at 27, 35…..

In the prime of life ANYTHING can happen.  Maybe it’s a test of strength or perhaps just something horribly unfair.  I talk to people all the time and they basically say “it won’t happen to me” or “we’re all set for now”.

Well, isn’t that precisely the point?  You are all set FOR NOW!  The point is “Being Prepared” for later, maybe tomorrow.

Why do men buy 4 wheel drive on a truck in Texas?  I mean, I’m from Vermont and I understand it there….with the weather and all and my ol’ Jeep got me out of some situations and home safely many times.  Well, the answer is ‘just in case’.  Should the situation arise, you are going to be more than thankful you have the ‘protection’ in place for such an incident as being stuck out in the middle of nowhere.  Nobody to call, nobody that can help….

All I can tell you is BE PREPARED.  It’s worth it and you will be glad you have the protection in place.  Just in case.

Trust me, I know.  Credit card companies are…well…I cannot put it into polite words here what I really think, but ‘just wrong’.  They do people wrong, they take advantage, they sneak in for the attack and worse.

It’s soooo unfortunate that with all of the value we get from our ‘schooling’, that while we are there, nobody teaches us about money and how to handle our finances correctly, before these ‘evil’ companies get to sink their claws in.

I recall my very first credit card was offered to me the summer I graduated high school and it was a Mobil card.  What did I know?  Boy, was I psyched!  I whipped that puppy out all the time.  Driving back n forth to college 3 hrs. each way sure racked up the card and with my very part time dorm office job, of course I could only make minimum payments…and hence became the story of my life and almost everyone else’s.

I must re-visit this topic at a later time, but first…I am going to share two very valuable tips about credit cards.

1.  Be sure to READ every piece of mail that comes regarding a card you may have.  What companies ‘bank’ on is the fact that you will probably miss it, toss it, or disregard it and believe me, folks…you will be sorry.  I missed one of these mailings (they are soooo boring to read after all) and what it was basically asking me was “Do you want your interest increased from 14.99% to 19.99%?  Um……DUH!!!!!    Then, it went on to say that if you didn’t want an increase and you do not respond by such and such date, then on this date your interest will be increased.  Sure enough….that’s what happened and there was no getting it changed, over-ridden, excused, reversed, no sob stories, nothing.  NADA.  If you do NOT take action, your rate will go up. (it will also go up if you are late paying, but that’s a given and a little more reasonable).

2. I just found a video from Suze Orman and she recommended that when shopping for a credit card, shop here: http://www.creditcardconnection.org/

Credit Unions have a max limit of interest they can charge depending on whether they are government or state run.  Credit Unions also take care of their members.  This site is NOT open to normal credit companies to advertise on, etc.  This is a trustworthy, educational and ethical site.  Good luck!