@chrystaltree wrote:
@SahmIam wrote:
@ScrapHappy My 21 year old son still sees his pediatrician and will continue until the age of 26 (which is when he is off our insurance and will then have him become our dependent). As per all our doctors, as long as insurance companies see them as "children" and the parents policy covers them, the pediatrician can still see them as patients.
My 18 year old still sees him as well but he rarely needs to. He just sees no reason to switch as of yet.
Honestly, I don't think this is even an issue for most people. The change just happens naturally. I'm glad you mentioned age 26 because many pediatricians do see patients up to 23 and some up to 26. It has absolutely nothing to do with insurance, Md's are Md's. Insurers don't care if a covered patient sees a pediatrician until they are 104 years old. One thing that has not been addressed , at 18, patients are considered to be adults, whether the parents like it or not. It's the law. If the PATIENT wants a parent in the exam room, the doctor has to get that patient's permission to have the parent there. Which means the doctor or nurse has to ask the patient. The doctor cannot legally disclose health information to a parent without the patient's written permission. I've actually never heard of a parent saying "Johnny, it's time for you to stop seeing a pediatrician". It doesn't work that way, it's the young person who makes that decision on their own. Usually because they move or go off to college or they don't want to sit in waiting rooms with 8 years. Some pediatricians with large practices do transition patients at 21 or 23 when they reach the point when they have too many patients to handle. However, if a patient vehemently resists, they'll keep that patient until the patient is ready to transition out.
@chrystaltree You are correct that at 18, your child MUST give permission to the parent for anything involving their care even if he/she is still going to the pediatrician and you are paying for it. Parents often forget this according to one of the nurses there.
@ScrapHappy My eldest is disabled and his situation is bit different, therefore. That said, I have had to fill out paperwork with every doctor in order to have access to his records and to speak to anyone involved with his care. His neurological team is in a different state and his pediatrician works with that team to assist with the care of my son locally. Due to an issue with his medications and the DEA contacting his doctor about them, his doc and I were discussing long term prescriptions; found out that his doc has a few patients between the ages of 30 and late 40's that he still sees and writes Rx's for. @chrystaltree is correct, again, that the insurance company doesn't care who sees you, just as long as they are legit doctor.
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