Life is filled with all sorts of financial roadblocks (some of them planned, some not). One of the biggest that many of us will face? Health care costs. Safeguards for your budget and savings can help. Adding a complete set of health care documents to your estate plan can allow your loved ones to manage your finances (and your care) when you can’t.

These documents and the conversations that go with them can be hard and uncomfortable. But completing them now and having those talks while you’re able can help ease burdens if you become ill or after you’re gone. Servant Solutions is able to help through a free service provided by our recordkeeping partner, Principal Financial Group. Principal has teamed with ARAG* and now provides a package of estate planning documents available to you at no additional cost.

Each item on this list (people to talk to, forms to fill out, and records or information to gather) may help ensure that the protections you’ve put in place—stay in place.

Four health care documents in your estate plan

1. Medical power of attorney/durable power of attorney for health care/health care power

Is it a legal document? Yes.

What it does: Identifies a health care proxy or agent who may make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make them yourself. Medical treatments often have financial implications, so some people name the same person to be their durable power of attorney (see below) as their health care proxy.

2. Living will/advance health care directive

Is it a legal document? No.

What it does: Offers your health care proxy instructions for your medical care should you be unable to make decisions for yourself. It’s typically included as part of an estate plan because treatment choices have financial and health implications.

3. HIPAA release/authorization

Is it a legal document? Yes.

What it does: Allows a hospital to release current health care information about you to loved ones. Without it, hospital staff won’t provide information about you to anyone other than your spouse, and you won’t be able to weigh in on treatment options either, which may have financial implications. If there’s someone you may be responsible for over the age of 18 (say, a college-age child) that lives elsewhere, fill one out for each state.

4. Do not resuscitate (DNR) order or physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST)

Is it a legal document? Yes. It must be signed by the health care proxy and cosigned by a physician.

What it does: While there are no direct financial implications to having a POLST or DNR, it rounds out an estate plan. Either is the only legally valid form that medical staff will follow during cardiac or respiratory arrest should you require resuscitation, which may have financial implications.

One estate plan document that helps

Durable power of attorney

Is it a legal document? Yes.

What it does: This differs from the durable power of attorney for health care; both are important. This gives a proxy the power to make financial decisions, including health insurance information, billing, and claims, on your behalf.

People to talk to about your health care plans

Your health care proxy: A health care proxy is a person you name in a medical power of attorney (see above) to make health care decisions for you.

Your loved ones: Spelling out your wishes (and sharing who is serving as your health care and financial stand-ins) isn’t bleak. “We all have optimism bias, and nobody ever thinks something bad will happen to them,” says De Haan. “But when an event happens, you can minimize the stress and anxiety family members are going to experience about your well-being and your financial picture if you have these things in place.”

FOUR health-care related records you need

1. Medical records

Include any diagnoses (past and present), surgeries, relevant tests, medical history, and current medication.

2. Health care providers

Include general care and any specialists, with contact information.

3. Health care insurance records

Include policy numbers and contact information.

4. End-of-life instructions

Include end-of-life preferences, such as memorial service and organ donation information.

review these documents regularly

It’s important to review your documents annually. You should also update documents if you get married, get divorced or start a family. Be sure to review and update beneficiary forms. The information in your beneficiary form will be followed, regardless of what your will says.