End-of-Life Care Survey of Upstate New Yorkers

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently released a survey of 2,000 adults living in upstate New York to assess their attitudes and actions regarding the use of health care proxies and living wills. Key findings:

• Considerable disparity exists between consumer attitudes and behavior as they relate to advance directives. Nearly 9 of 10 adults surveyed (88%) say it is very/fairly important that they have someone who could make medical decisions on their behalf if they had an irreversible terminal condition and were no longer able to make medical decisions on their own. Yet, only 42% indicated they have actually designated a Health Care Proxy who would assume this responsibility.


• Even fewer people reported completing a Living Will (26%), although 80% said it is very/fairly important for them to have such a document.


• Perceived importance of the two advance directives was high even among those who had not completed a Health Care Proxy form or a Living Will. Among those who had not completed a Health Care Proxy form, 81% said it would be very/fairly important for them to have a Health Care Proxy. Of those who had not completed a Living Will, three-quarters (74%) felt that it was very/fairly important for them to have one.


• Overall, about 4 of 5 residents surveyed felt that every adult should have a Health Care Proxy (81%) and a Living Will. Only a small percentage thought that Health Care Proxies and Living Wills were only for old or sick people.

Read the complete Executive Summary on their website.