My child needs estate planning documents too?
What now? My child needs estate planning documents too?
Yep, now that our little girl is all grown up (haha, she’s 18), I have asked her to sign a Medical Power of Attorney so mom and I can actually help out with medical care. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) privacy rules are strict, and penalties for improper disclosure of information have just increased. Consequently, doctors and hospitals are increasingly just saying “no” when parents want to be involved in the care of their young “adult” children. You can fight back by having your child sign a medical power of attorney appointing you as agent. Let us know if you need help! You can read more about HIPAA regulations here.