I am over 18 years old, but because I am in college full-time and living at home, I am still covered by my mother's medical insurance plan through Kaiser. I am curious about how much information my mom would have access to, since she is still the one getting the bill. I understand specifics might be protected because of privacy laws, but even if the bill said "lab work" or something similar, that is too much information. I want to have independence with my medical health issues, but I don't think that is possible with my current situation. My mom freaks out easily about things, so I would prefer that she wasn't made aware that I even accessed medical care. Is this totally impossible? If I tell my mom that I want to access certain medical care, she will be worried and think the worst. If I don't tell her and then she gets the bill, she will be extra curious and assume that something terrible is wrong (especially if I won't tell her). You can see how this is a problem, especially because I am a private person. Paying for the services out of pocket is not an option because I am a typical "poor college student." Thank you for any information you can provide, although I am fairly certain I know the answer(s).

Hello Manque, I don't think your mom could get info on the reason for lab work or doctor visits but she will know that you have had them. The bill will come to her since it is in her name and now most insurance companies allow you to view your claims online. I know what every doctor charges my insurance and how much they pay for each prescription. So if it is something you really don't want your mom to find out about maybe you should check into low cost insurance of your own. Good luck and maybe if you just tell your mom what you need to go to the doctors for it wouldn't be a big deal. you are 18. an adult
Terri

HIPAA prevents insurance companies from releasing personal health information to anyone other than the patient unless they are under 18 yrs of age. (for example, parents can receive information for dependants under 18) Each insurance company is different. Most insurance companies now send eob's in the patient's name rather than whoever the policyholder is. Information in the eob is limited with regards to treatment info.

Your mother can call all she wants to a provider or insurance company but they will not release any information to her without your express verbal or written consent.

Just be up front and tell her that you may need to get medical care from time to time, whether for flu, a urinary infection or something else, but that if it is something major that she would need to know about you will tell her. Let her know that you don't expect her to reveal ever aspect of her personal health to you, and that you request that she provide you the same respect, with the knowledge that if you have something major you will let her know. Don't you feel that both of you could see this as fair?

I remember a few years ago, I had taken one of my kids to a pediatrician. He was 16 at the time and he needed to run drug screen before he prescribed him meds for mental health issues. I asked if he'd call me when the results are were in so that I'd know if he was doing drugs. Doctor told me he couldn't tell me that since the kid was 16. Great and now he has a horrible drug habit. I still don't know if he tested positive. I certainly think that I had a right to know that. I was still responsible for his doctor bills, but not any knowledge. Please keep your Mom informed if there are any problems that she might help you with.

I think this is an issue of wanting to have your cake and eat it too. You want to be a grown-up and do grown-up things, and yet you still want to be covered by mom's insurance. I'm assuming you're referring to birth control, gyn visits, etc, right? A real grown-up woman is ready to take on things like that when she is willing to step up to the plate and pay for them herself.

I was confronted by the same issues when I went to college, and I paid for things like that out of pocket (even as a poor college student). I usually went to the campus clinic and things were cheaper there. My parents would have freaked out too, so I took care of it myself like a grown-up. That way I didn't have to answer to them. You might want to consider doing the same thing.

Quietcook, your idea is very PC, except Mom is still footing the bill and thus should have some say in what goes on. Of course a mother doesn't have to reveal her medical issues to her child, but a child who is still dependent on the parent doesn't necessarily have the same rights as an independent adult.

That's a nice 1950's view of parenthood, summertyme, but nowadays HIPAA states her mother has no legal right to know any of her medical information. Being on her parent's insurance as an adult isn't suckling off her teat, so to speak, especially in today's day and age. Most full-time workers couldn't afford decent insurance on their own, let alone a college kid. I wholeheartedly agree she should be discussing this kind of topic with her parents and keeping them in the loop, but the law says she doesn't have to. and as a prevoius poster noted, almost all insurance companies now address any letters or EOBs to the patient if they're over 18.

All I know is if my 18 year old child came to me with a line like "I won't try to find out about your business and you don't try to find out about my business" that I'm footing the bill for, after I finally quit laughing, I'd call the insurance company, find out what I could, and then have her removed from my insurance. If she's so grown up to have that much personal business, she's grown up enough to pay for it.

I wasn't even alive in the 1950's (or the 1960's either), but some things are just good sense no matter what "federal law" or current political correctness has to say about it.

I'm 18 and in college too. I'm also under my parent's health insurance. I know that with my insurance company, any authorizations, bills, statements about visits gets sent to my house and my school both in my name. So i'm assuming this is what happens with other companies too? I'm opposite of you though, I don't care if my parents know why I'm going to the doctors or what for, I actually prefer it...more for my convience because if something gets messed up with a bill or something, then they can deal with it if I'm busy with classes or whatever and can't sit on hold forever. Although, in order for my mom to even talk to my insurance company about ANYTHING related to me, I had to fill out paperwork stating that they can talk to her and how much information the insurance company was allowed to tell her and everything. Without this form my insurance company wouldn't even talk to my mom about me. So I don't think your mom could really find anything out anyways, because of hte HIPPA laws.

I'm curious if you have a campus doctor, we have one on campus. Everything there is free, unless they have to send you for outside treatment. They don't even send a bill or anything stating that you were seen, it's just in their chart at the office. Maybe you should consider going to your campus medical clinic for your medical appointments?