How to Prepare for Your Child’s Healthcare Transition

You play a key role in helping your child prepare for life as an adult. This includes making sure your child is comfortable taking control of their own healthcare needs when it’s time. That’s why it’s important to prepare for your child’s healthcare transition, especially if they have a chronic disease or special needs.

Whether your child is a teen or a young adult, we have a few tips to make their transition as smooth as possible.

Take a look at the checklist below for ways to prepare for your child’s healthcare transition.

Plan Early

Ask questions and get advice on how best to move your child from pediatric to adult healthcare. Speak with your child’s pediatrician about this change and together you will find a strategy on how to move forward. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• What age will your child be when the pediatrician stops seeing him or her as a patient?
• Can the pediatrician refer me to a new primary care provider for adults?
• Will they forward my child’s medical history to the new doctor’s office?
• Is my child still covered under my medical policy?

New Responsibilities

Teach your child basic healthcare skills. It will give them the confidence they need to take on an active role in their medical care. Based on their age, here are a few places you can start:

• Let your child schedule their own appointments at the doctor’s office
• Encourage your child to speak up during their medical visits
• Show your child how to fill prescriptions and manage medications

Practice

As a parent, you’re responsible for your child’s healthcare decisions until age 18, when they become legal adults. Before they do, explain this to your child so they understand what it means to be fully involved in their own medical care. Here’s what you can do to help your child practice for their healthcare transition:

• Allow your child to spend time alone with their doctor while you wait outside
• Teach them how to read their healthcare identification card
• Go through common health insurance words with your child to help them understand

Finding a New Doctor

As your child ages, it’s important to help them know how to choose a new primary care provider. Depending on their preferences, you can guide your child in the right direction by listening to and supporting his or her needs.

If you have a daughter, it may be beneficial to find a primary care provider such as a gynecologist, who specializes in women’s health and can provide important medical advice for her overall health.

Is your child ready to visit their new Primary Care Provider (PCP) for the first time? Here’s what to expect.

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