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Call guides

The calls nobody wants to make, with the words ready. Each guide covers who to call, what to have in front of you, what to say, and the traps to avoid. The word "hospitalized" opens more doors than you'd expect — use it.

Call guide

Bank: get recognized on the account

Register a power of attorney or ask what the bank needs from you

Call guide

Credit card: make a payment by phone

Pay the bill when you can't access their online account

Call guide

Hardship program: reduce or pause payments

Credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills often have one — but only if you ask

Call guide

Utilities: prevent shutoff

Medical and hardship protections for electric, gas, and water

Call guide

Insurance: stop a policy from lapsing

Health, homeowners, auto, and especially life and long-term-care policies

Call guide

Hospital billing: slow down and ask for help

Never pay a big medical bill on the first phone call

Call guide

Mortgage servicer: hardship options

Forbearance and payment plans for the biggest bill of all

Call guide

Social Security: managing benefits

POA is not enough for Social Security — they have their own system

Call guide

Care facility: the first conversation

What to ask a skilled nursing / rehab / assisted-living facility before saying yes

Do this together, with the free app

Afloat turns these guides into a shared family workspace: guided checklists, an AI-drafted bill inventory from photographed statements, call guides filled in with your family's names, and roles so relatives can help without seeing more than they should. Free — no ads, no selling your data.

Start free at afloatfinance.org