Abstract: A method allowing for the rapid retrieval of advance medical directives such as, e.g., living wills and health care proxies. The method of the current invention increases the number of executed advance medical directives, and also increases the likelihood that the correct advance medical directive will be found quickly and efficiently when necessary. The method incorporates the marketing of advance health care directives to entities responsible for providing payment for health care services. By marketing advance health care directives to the entities responsible for providing payment for health care services, the exorbitant costs associated with unnecessary, i.e., unwanted by the patient, medical care are greatly decreased, in part, because a greater number of people who will be aware of, and execute, an advance medical directive will increase. The executed advance medical directives are stored in a central database for later retrieval, e.g., via a telephone or computer query system.