Forms Every 18+ Year Old Needs

A few months ago, my friend’s daughter, a freshman in college, had a health scare. Fortunately, everything turned out okay! But my friend hadn’t had her daughter fill out any of the necessary forms to allow the doctor and hospital to release information to her or even to speak to her about her daughter’s medical concerns. Trying to get a busy (and uninterested) college student to fill out the necessary forms while in another state in the middle of a semester was not quick, easy, or painless. 

There are privacy laws (HIPAA) that restrict what a health care provider can share about any adult 18 years or older. Yes, this applies even if your adult child is still on your health insurance plan. Please refer to this article with advice about what forms you should have your 18+ year-olds sign. You can complete these forms on your own or meet with an estate planning attorney. (Special thanks to Emily Rozwadowski of Spencer & Rozwadowski, LLP for reviewing this information.)

Briefly, the four important documents are:

1. Health Care Power of Attorney - allows you to designate someone to serve as a your proxy or agent in case you are unable to make medical decisions on your own (Illinois form)
2. HIPAA Authorization - a document that allows health care providers (and others) to share specific health information with people who you designate to receive that information (sample form from the American Bar Association)
3. Durable Power of Attorney/Power of Attorney for Property - allows you to designate someone to act on your behalf for financial matters
4. FERPA Release (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) - permission to access educational records (more info and model forms here)

If your adult child is attending college in another state, it may be safest to fill out forms for each state. Some colleges have their own forms as well (e.g., the University of Illinois has this authorization to release confidential health information form); this is something worth asking about at parent orientation.

Once you’ve filled out the forms, keep them in a secure place. Also, be sure to scan them so you can easily access them from your phone as well as from your child’s phone.

So, while you’re checking towels, sheets, comforter, etc off of your college packing/to do list this summer, please add “fill out important forms!"

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