My Plans | FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions about preparing for your care now and in later life.
View each section by tapping the topics below.
Welcome to My Plans | FAQs
The My Plans FAQs page covers planning for care in later life, insurance planning, completing an advance directive and naming a healthcare proxy, and planning for care at the end of life for trans and gender-expansive adults and older adults. Under each topic you'll find a menu of sub-topics, each with an answer to frequently asked questions.
Q | Should FAQs be read in a certain order? FAQs do not have to be read in any particular order. Feel free to check out the ones that are most interesting to you.
Q | How often are FAQs updated? Information that is quickly evolving, especially related to policy changes, will be monitored and updated on a quarterly basis. All other information will be reviewed and updated annually. This means that information that changes between updates may be temporarily out of date. Look for timestamps on each FAQ page to keep track of the most recent updates.
Q | Can’t find what you’re looking for? Transforming Choices provides the basics. For more specific information, consider talking to a trusted healthcare provider, posting to a community forum, asking a friend with experience in the healthcare system, or searching trusted sources online.
To read the FAQs on this page, first select a topic like planning now, general planning, etc. that interests you. Then choose from sub-topics listed on the page by tapping the (+) signs. Questions and answers will drop down under each title. When you're finished reading, tap the (-) sign in the upper right corner of the box to close the dropdown before opening the next one.
Some FAQs have links to outside websites. These links are underlined in blue with a right arrow (→).
Keywords are underlined in pink under each FAQ. If you tap on a keyword, a pop-up message will appear with the definition so you do not have to navigate away from the FAQs page. At the top of each tab, you'll find a link to the glossary page with definitions for the full list of keywords.
My Plans FAQs by Topic
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Does Medicare cover gender-affirming medical and surgical care?
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How will recent budget cuts affect my coverage or eligibility to sign up for Medicaid?
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Why should I prepare for my care in later life?
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When should I start taking steps to prepare for my care?
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How do I start taking steps to prepare for my care?
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How do I talk to my doctor about planning for my future medical care?
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What is important to know about planning for my healthcare when I retire?
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If I decide to move to another state, what should I know about accessing healthcare there?
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If I decide to move to another country, what should I know about accessing healthcare there?
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When I retire, how do I get health insurance?
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Where do I find information about enrolling in Medicare? When can I enroll?
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What is Medicaid?
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What is long-term care insurance? How do I sign up?
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What is life insurance? When do I need it?
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What do I do if my insurance company denies coverage for my care?
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How do I document decisions about my future medical care?
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Are there any trans-friendly advance directives?
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Should my advance directive show that I’m trans?
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Where can I find an advance directive form for my state?
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Does an advance directive need to be prepared by a lawyer?
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How should I store my advance directive?
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Does an advance directive need to be updated?
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What can be done if I am seriously ill and people in my support network do not agree about my care?
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Why do I need a healthcare proxy?
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What does next of kin mean? Is my next of kin the only one who can make healthcare decisions for me if I can’t?
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How do I choose a healthcare proxy?
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What do I do if I can’t think of anyone to name as my healthcare proxy?
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How do I talk to someone I trust about being my healthcare proxy?
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What can I do to prepare for my care at the end of life?
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Who will make medical decisions for me if I become unable?
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How do I go about making funeral plans? What should I consider?
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