Excuse me.....total six family members present at the time of signing....and NOW, you say, they all agree she did not understand what she was signing? A bit shakey, that. Surely sounds like self-interested hind-sight to me. But you don't have to convince me. You have to convince the medical professionals that will be giving or withholding care when the time comes....and THEY will have that document in-hand. You may trust me when I tell you that if/when comparing your instructions to them against their patient's signed document, they'll go with the patient's signed document every time. Change? She can change it....if she's competent to do so. Otherwise, no. Except.... As attorney-in-fact -- if that's what you meant by "agent" named in health care power of attorney document -- you may have authority to direct/act on your own if/when some crucial decision-time arises. However, assuming the home has a document-copy on file, you may well encounter opposition from them at the crucial moment...which I suspect is exactly what you want to avoid. Do not guess at this. Find out. If your MiL is not competent to sign/amend, you're pretty much hosed that way. Only other alternative is to become absolutely familiar with your powers as attorney-in-fact....including how to go about asserting such power if/when challenged. From your post, you're obviously adrift. Get a copy of the document, pay an attorney for an hour of their time, and have this explained to you so that you understand what can be done and what cannot be done. Might take two hours. Get it done.

Sorry - a little more info to be added: (IÂm a believer itÂs best to get a private policy before one turns 50 [most carriers will not write an LTC policy on anyone younger than 45] as the premiums start to rise substantially after that age. As the first article states, the premiums for the CLASS program are not much cheaper than a Preferred risk would pay for a much better private LTC policy if purchased at age 50 or younger. Our own policies (purchased thru DH's employer 10 yrs ago) are miles better than the CLASS program offers, but if we tried to obtain these same policies now, weÂd either get turned down or have to pay three or four times more than what we currently pay.) Further info: Article: With Health Reform, Long-Term-Care Option Becomes Law CLASS Act enacted with health care reform 3/24/2010 By Stephen Miller Under the CLASS Act program, all premium costs can be charged to employees. Employers who chose to participate in the CLASS program wil be required to permit employees to make contributions by means of a payroll deduction, once the CLASS Independence Benefit Plan is designated by U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is to be no later than Oct. 1, 2012. Employers either would create automatic enrollment procedures that allow workers to opt out, or allow workers to choose to enroll and pay premiums. Participants must pay monthly premiums for at least five years before they could receive benefits. Seniors (over age 65 years old) who have paid premiums for at least 20 years and are not actively employed are exempt from paying any premium increase. Premium payments will be placed in a "Life Independence Account" on behalf of each eligible beneficiary and managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a new insurance program. As the CLASS program is developed, participating employers will need to coordinate with their payroll services providers to facilitate these deductions and contributions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the monthly insurance premium will average about $123 in 2011. Premiums vary with age and will not increase once employees signed up, but they would increase for those signing up later. After five years of paying into the program, enrollees who continue to pay monthly premiums would become eligible for assistance if they experience limitations in two or more so-called activities of daily living, including eating, bathing, dressing and taking medications. This assistance would take the form of a modest daily cash benefit, estimated at $50 per day for impaired enrollees living in the community, for services such as respite care, home care aides and accessible transportation, and up to $75 a day for enrollees who become institutionalized. These amounts would increase with inflation. Here is a link that might be useful: Earlier info on CLASS program

Sherrmann: I don't know how to do italics either, so I'm just going to use the age old quotes, should I quote you. =0) The different systems were all listed on a website at one time, but it was several months ago, I believe it's "hillaries" plan that has the communist bent I mentioned (though I could be wrong on that....). Obama had one that makes a immediate "check-up" mandatory, though I don't remember what happens if you tell them to pound sand. "WHY ARE YOU NOT BOTHERED BY THAT?" Who says I'm not?!? Ok, I'm not as bothered by companies restricting the folks who choose to use their company, because each and every one of those folks have the choice not to give that company their money. (I also understand that those companies have made agreements with the doctors on their list, that they can only charge their people certain amounts, thus saving the insurance company and the consumer both money. Thus the reasons for the lists.... of course you can go outside your system, but the company will only pay the amount they have worked out with the doctor on their list... you will have to pay the rest.) Consumers seem to have forgotten that what they buy, they get. If there is not an option out there that they find ok, then they have the choice not to buy at all. We had a post either here or in the money saving forum that proves that point to the letter. Someone wanted to be able to pay their bill by phone without charge. At least 5 folks came on saying that they should just accept what the company offered, even if it wasn't what they wanted. Excuse me WHAT?!?!?!? Why the heck should we do that? There are too many companies offering similar services to settle for what one company offers. My dad just had a woman for a satellite company tell him that he had to either pay $70 for a service call, or pay a monthly fee to have them come out and fix their equipment, that there was no other choice. She was actually shocked to find out that HIS choice would involve a rival company and NOT paying this company's bogus fees. (they came out and fixed their stuff without charge) Yes, I know, just like that lady on the phone, many believe that they do not have a choice in the insurance company they choose. It's simply not true. You always have a choice. It may be between something bad and something worse, but it is still a choice. "I DON'T THINK IT IS OK FOR "SOME OF US TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS." NO ONE IS MORE ENTITLED TO GOOD HEALTH CARE THAN ANYONE ELSE." No, it's not "OK", but it IS going to happen. No matter how good the system it's still run by people, and people aren't perfect. There are folks in every system in the world falling through those cracks. Are wealthy people "entitled" to more/better care simply because they can pay for it themselves? As much as it seems to go against the grain, and that I hate the word "entitled"....... Yes. In the same way as they are "entitled" to better houses, better cars, and even better tvs. They can pay to fly to where ever the expert in their particular problem is, they can afford to stay as long as they need to in that area, they can afford the fees that the best can charge. They can also chase all over the world for the latest "cure" not available here, to the scientists and the wackos who they think can help. They can pay to have a private nurse come to their home and stay with them for 24 hours a day for months and/or years. And as much as many may hate it, those wealthy folks chasing the fountain of youth, allow the experts to volunteer their time helping those that may not have as much. Allows them to charge less if anything to those who can not afford to pay. And in the case of a home health nurse... pays a living salary for someone else. This does not mean that everyone should not be able to get some basic care. It does not mean that everyone should be able to get good care. And if you need me to pay for your basic health care, then you should be willing to go through the systems currently in place. They may be broken, but they are in place. Somehow it seems to speak to the "throw away" society we have become that no one is interested in fixing what we have, they just want to go out and buy "healthcare 2.0". Kidney cancer (hopefully you are doing better now) is not a minor ailment. I believe that the comment was directed at those who could not be bothered to take a few hours off work to take a kid with a cold to the regular doctor. Anyone who has ever been in an ER has seen the number of folks with routine care concerns that are filling up the seats and bogging down the staff. Each and every one of those folks are going to be charged ER rates, which is probably 2-3 times more than a regular office visit, even including the time off work. Which may have something to do with Americans "paying twice as much" for care than other parts of the world, if in fact we do. If we do it is probably the ONLY thing we pay more for. I believe that I am intelligent enough to make my own decisions, and am old enough to take responsibility for my own actions or inactions. Whatever they may be. I wonder how many folks will be thrown into financial trouble by these plans (even those without a communist bent). With many living paycheck to paycheck and that's without insurance... how much worse off will those that we are supposedly trying to "help" be? How many will tank out and go under with the additional tax burden? Yes, it sounds good as long as you do not scratch the surface. So did ARM's and IO loans not too long ago......

Insurance coverage varies so much from state to state. You'll need to do your research. Many people misunderstand COBRA. COBRA is an expensive option usually. All it is really is allowing you an option to purchase the same insurance coverages available to you now but you pay the full premium cost. There is no company contribution so expect the premium to be double or more of what you currently pay and it's only allowed for about 6 months following separation so you still have to find another option in a few months. Most of the time you can get reasonable coverage for a lot less but many people like the comfort level of keeping what they have when making a change. My experience, albeit unusual, was not good with COBRA. One foul-up after another and I just wound up going without insurance and frankly was glad that I did. But that was years ago now and insurance is required now unless you want to pay the alternative. And the problems I had were with the employer and not COBRA itself nor the insurance company. Here we have a website and a number to call to find out about insurance options. If you have something similar, I'd check that out. It could be very helpful to give you ideas of rates and coverages. A lot of times company programs include options you could live without and save substantially. For instance there's time there's vision or dental coverage and often they're not very good but they add substantially to the premium. Of course this all varies so much that there's no one rule but my point is that you should look at what it includes and what you really need and want. Maybe you could go with a higher deductible, which could save a lot too. If you do go through with resigning, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I've left jobs many times with few regrets. You sound like a sensible person and I'm sure things will work out fine. Best of luck to you no matter what happens.