Resources
Aetna Compassionate CareSM Program
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.
Learn about the Conversation Project
This program helps educate people on how to make medical decisions for themselves and others; talk with their doctor, and get the medical care that is right for them.
View and explore the Starter Kit
Learn about Prepare for Your Care
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.”
Hospice care
Hospice 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
- Choosing a quality hospice tool
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization free worksheet helps patients, families choose a hospice. - Medicare Hospice Benefits - revised March 2018
Grief / bereavement
Grief 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)
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
Find out how one family benefitted from Aetna's Accelerated Death Benefit election.
Important paperwork
The 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:
- One for your records
- One for a trusted family member or friend
- 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.
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.
Next step
If you are an Aetna medical member and would like more information about the Aetna Compassionate Care program, please call the member services number on your ID card.
