Contributed by: Holly Perzy, MD
When your child turns 18, their health care responsibilities shift. To ease that transition, we have some tips for you and your adolescent.
Turning 18 is a big deal. Not just emotionally, but legally. Whether your teen is heading off to college or staying at home, once they reach adulthood, they’re officially in charge of their own health care. That means managing appointments, medications, and even their MyChart account. But don’t worry, there’s a way to make this transition smoother for both of you.
The transition can be stressful for both parents and teens, says Holly Perzy, MD, Chair of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, (Med-Peds), at MetroHealth.
Her best advice is to start well before your child turns 18 to help them understand their own medical history and conditions.
This doesn’t mean stepping back entirely. For teens with chronic conditions requiring specialty care, parental support remains essential. The goal is to help your child learn how to manage parts of their healthcare, so that eventually they can manage it all.
Dr. Perzy and her Med-Peds team identified four stages of the transition. At each stage, there are some helpful questions for parents.
Stage 1: Building Awareness (12 – 14 years old)
- Can your child name their chronic conditions and allergies?
- Does your child know what medications they take and the doses?
- Have you shown your child their MyChart account and how to log in?
Stage 2: Practicing Independence (14 – 16 years old)
- Can your child describe their chronic conditions and how it impacts their health?
- Can your child describe what each medicine they take is for?
- Can your child describe any allergic symptoms?
- Is your child answering questions on their own during health visits?
- Has your child ever engaged with MyChart, including looking at health summaries or sending their own MyChart message?
Stage 3: Taking the Lead (16 – 18 years old)
- Does your child see the provider alone, or spend the bulk of time without you in the room during the health visit?
- Does your child take medication correctly and on their own without supervision?
- Has your child ever refilled their medication on their own?
- Does your child know what health insurance you have?
- Can your child identify family history of diseases?
- Is your child arranging their own transportation to appointments?
- Is your child using MyChart on their own?
Stage 4: Full Ownership (18+ years old)
- If you’ve laid the groundwork, ideally, at this stage, your adult child is ready to:
- Ask their own health questions during health visits (since you likely won’t be there).
- Make health appointments on their own.
- Handle their medications (including refills).
- Choose their own adult doctors for primary care or specialty care.
- Carry a health insurance card.
These stages serve as a guide to help your child take charge of their own health. Whether they’re 12 or 18 years old, it’s not too late to set them up for success.
Already using MyChart to manage your family’s health records and appointments? That’s great! If not, or if you want to introduce your adult child to take the reins, MyChart is simple. From scheduling visits to refilling prescriptions, it’s all in one place. Sign up at metrohealth.org/mychart.
