Every adult over the age of 18 is fully responsible for making decisions regarding their health care and finances. Because of the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), parents have no legal right to access their adult children’s medical records or to obtain information from their doctors. This roadblock makes it very difficult for parents to help their child in case of an emergency. We recommend that every young adult over the age of 18 have an updated Health Care Proxy, HIPAA Release, and Durable Power of Attorney so that their parents can immediately help a young adult child who gets sick or injured. College students should also sign a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Waiver allowing their parents to access their school records and grades.
To learn more or schedule a free consultation with our lead Estate Planning Attorney Catherine Lundregan Oatway call (617) 479-0400 or email cso@morisi.com today.
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