When your child turns 18, it’s a moment of pride and transition. They’re stepping into adulthood, gaining independence, and making decisions for themselves. But as exciting as this milestone is, it’s easy to overlook one critical detail: the change in legal authority over their healthcare decisions.
Many of us with children who have special needs are familiar with the importance of establishing guardianship. However, when it comes to our typical, newly turned 18-year-olds, we often forget to consider an equally important step — ensuring they have a healthcare proxy in place.
Why is a Health Care Proxy Important?
Once your child turns 18, they are legally recognized as an adult, meaning you no longer have the automatic right to make medical decisions for them, even in emergencies. While they may still rely on you for emotional support, financial advice, and countless other things, if they are unable to make decisions due to illness or injury, healthcare professionals cannot consult you unless they have a signed healthcare proxy in place.
A health care proxy is a legal document where your child can appoint someone – typically a parent or trusted relative – to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated. Without this document, you could find yourself in a situation where critical decisions need to be made, but you are not legally allowed to step in.
When Should You Have This Conversation?
Ideally, the discussion about a healthcare proxy should happen as your child approaches their 18th birthday. It’s a time when they’re navigating new responsibilities and autonomy, and it’s the perfect moment to introduce the idea of planning for the unexpected. While they may feel invincible, explaining that this isn’t just about emergencies but also about making sure their wishes are honored can help them see the importance.
What Happens Without a Health Care Proxy?
Without a healthcare proxy, your family may have to go to court to establish guardianship during an emergency. This process can be emotionally and financially draining at a time when quick decisions are crucial.
Why is a HIPAA Waiver Important?
A HIPAA waiver (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act waiver) is a legal document that allows an individual to give permission for their healthcare providers to share their medical information with specific people, such as family members or caregivers. In addition to establishing a health care proxy, another crucial step parents should consider when their child turns 18 is discussing the necessity of a HIPAA waiver. As parents of teenagers, we often take charge of managing their healthcare and have open access to their medical information. However, when they turn 18, the rules shift dramatically — and unless there’s a HIPAA waiver in place, you can no longer access their health records. What was once automatic suddenly isn’t, as your child is now legally entitled to full privacy over their medical information.
Having a thoughtful discussion with your child about signing a HIPAA waiver is essential. While it’s important to respect their growing autonomy, ensuring that you have access to crucial health information, especially in emergencies, can give both you and your child peace of mind. It’s not about control — it’s about maintaining a supportive role as they step into adulthood.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
Talk to Your Young Adult: Begin by discussing the importance of having a health care proxy in place. Explain that it’s about ensuring their medical wishes are respected and having someone they trust to make decisions if they’re unable to.
Choose the Right Person: Encourage them to think about who they want to act as their healthcare agent. While it’s often a parent, they may have someone else in mind whom they trust. It’s their decision.
Make it Official: Once they’ve chosen their healthcare proxy, the next step is completing the proper legal documentation. This typically involves signing the healthcare proxy in front of witnesses.
Turning 18 is an exciting time for young adults, but with this new independence comes new responsibilities. Ensuring they have a healthcare proxy and a HIPAA waiver in place is a simple yet critical way to safeguard their healthcare decisions. Use this opportunity to empower your child by guiding them through these important legal steps. Start the conversation today and help them navigate this new chapter in their lives with confidence and support.
Of course, this isn’t just for those freshly-minted 18-year-olds who are navigating adulthood one questionable snack choice at a time. Even if your ‘adult child’ has been ‘adulting’ for a while now (or at least pretending to), making sure they have a healthcare proxy and HIPAA waiver in place is still a smart move. It’s a rite of passage for every age group!