Share with your providers: Aetna Compassionate CareSM Program

Aetna Compassionate Care^SM Program

• Compassionate Care home page  
• Learn about the Aetna Compassionate Care Program 
• Access the resources page for help with decisions and planning
• Completing an advance directives/living will
• Search our glossary of terms

Compassion. Caring. Support.
When you’re facing difficult decisions about a serious illness, our resources help you make choices that are best for your family.

Making decisions:
Discussing sensitive issues, such as treatment options and pain management, can be difficult. Here is a resource that can help you begin the discussion: The Conversation Project: View and explore the Starter Kit.

Advanced planning:Making your wishes known gives you peace of mind, and of spirit. You can protect yourself and your family. Start by making a record of instructions for care. These instructions should clearly describe the types of treatment you want to receive.

Advance directives/living will:
This legal document tells your doctor what kind of care you want or do not want. It will be used if you are too sick to make medical decisions on your own. It is sometimes also called a “living will.”  More information.
Hospice careHospice is a way of providing care for people with advanced illnesses. Hospice allows them to be comfortable (physically, emotionally and spiritually) at home, or at an inpatient facility. We can help you understand the value of hospice care. We can also help find the care that is right for you.
Some useful resources for Hospice information:

• Aetna Case Manager – Call the toll-free Member Services phone number on your Aetna member ID card to request an Aetna nurse case manager.
• Hospice.org 
• Medicare Hospice Benefits 

Grief/bereavementGrief is a reaction to a major loss. It is most often an unhappy and painful emotion. It may be triggered by the death of a loved one. People also can experience grief if they have an illness for which there is no cure, or a chronic condition that affects their quality of life. For more information on grief:

• Coping with grief or loss
• Contact the hospice in your area

Accelerated death benefit (ADB)  (PDF, 110 KB)
This is a provision in most life insurance policies. It allows a person to receive a portion of his or her life insurance money early.

Read this family's story.   (PDF, 85 KB)
Find out how one family benefitted from Aetna's Accelerated Death Benefit election.
Important paperworkThe following printable documents can help you and your loved ones keep track of the vital information needed to manage health care issues, such as health and finances. Fill out the forms, and then make three copies:
1. One for your records
2. One for a trusted family member or friend
3. One for your attorney, if you have one
List where your important papers and documents are stored. This will make it easy to locate your living will, life insurance policy, bank accounts, retirement information and more.
View My Important Papers  (PDF, 527 KB)
Important contacts List the names and contact numbers for the people who can assist you or your family members as you deal with serious illness. Include your doctor, clergy, attorney, accountant, etc.

View My Important Contacts  (PDF, 521 KB)
Useful websites:

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• GetPalliativeCare.org 
• Family Caregiver Alliance
• AARP Caregiving Resource Center
• National Council on Aging (NCOA) 
• National Institute of Health / National Institute on Aging: EOL
• HealthInAging.org 
• Long-Distance Caregiving

Courtesy of: Aetna http://www.aetna.com/individuals-families-health-insurance/sas/compassionate-care/resources.html