How can I make sure the transition to adulthood goes smoothly: Healthcare Action Plan

Action Plans > How can I make sure the transition to adulthood goes smoothly: Healthcare Action Plan

Healthcare Action Plan

Youth with disabilities are encouraged to take an active role in their healthcare, as early as possible. It is important to understand how to navigate Medicaid or other insurance options, how to find doctors and specialists that meet your needs, and how to access assessments/evaluations when needed.

How To Get Started: To create a custom action plan for yourself or for someone you support:

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Acronym key: MCO = Managed Care Organization

Physical Health

Consider applying for Medicaid. See the adult services action plan for more information on how to navigate Medicaid IDD services.

Approximate Age: As early as possible | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian

Resources: Medicaid.gov Adult services action plan

Explore Work Together NC’s library of healthcare services.

Approximate Age: As early as possible & ongoing | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian

Resources: WTNC healthcare service library

Consider acquiring a medical information ID card for emergencies.

Approximate Age: As early as possible | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian, Doctor

Resources: Medical ID card

Ask doctor if and at what age they no longer care for young adults.

Approximate Age: 45273 | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian

Resources: Getting ready for healthcare at the age of majority Healthcare transition guide for youth and families

Identify adult health care providers and become informed about sexuality and family planning options.

Approximate Age: 13 | Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, and MCO

Resources: Finding adult healthcare Find a family planning clinic

Learn what your teen knows about their health, health care, and family medical history. The individual and parent/caregiver can take Got Transition’s Transition Readiness Assessments* and discuss this together or with a doctor.

Approximate Age: 14-15 | Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, Doctor

Resources: Family toolkit on pediatric to adult healthcare

Learn what your teen knows about potential healthcare accommodations and, if needed, assist them in creating a personalized accommodations report.

Approximate Age: 14-15 | Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, Doctor

Resources: Healthcare accommodations tool

Provide the individual with their own health insurance card.

Approximate Age: 14-15 | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian

Prepare the individual for what to do in case of a health emergency.

Approximate Age: 14-15 | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian

Resources: What to do in a medical emergency toolkit

Practice making a doctor’s appointment and ordering prescription refills (either by phone, online, or through an app).

Approximate Age: 14-15 and ongoing | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian

Resources: Teaching phone skills at home

Work with your teen and the doctor to make and share a medical summary.

Approximate Age: 16-17 | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian, Doctor

Resources: Creating a medical summary

Before your teen turns 18 and becomes a legal adult, figure out if they will need help making health care decisions. See the “Supported Decision Making & Guardianship” section for more information. *Unless other arrangements have been made (ie., healthcare power of attorney), at age 18, the individual is a legal adult and legally responsible for their care. You cannot access their medical information or be in the doctor’s visit unless your young adult agrees or certain legal forms have been completed.

Approximate Age: 16-17 | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian, Doctor

Resources: Supported decision making action plan

Talk with your teen about the age they want to transfer to a new doctor for adult care.

Approximate Age: 16-17 | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian

Resources: Healthcare transition resources

Review health insurance coverage: inform insurance company of child’s disability and investigate rider of continued eligibility.

Approximate Age: 17 | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian

Resources: Child riders on life insurance info

If appropriate, assume additional responsibility for health care needs (making appointments, etc).

Approximate Age: 18 | Who can help: Individual

Resources: 5 important daily living skills Basic life skills for adults with disabilities

Request/advocate for an updated educational psych eval from the school, which may be useful when entering adult services or postsecondary programs.

Approximate Age: Within last 2 years of leaving high school | Who can help: Individual and Family/Guardian, School/IEP Team

Resources: Parent advocacy assistance: ECAC

Mental/Behavioral Health

Explore Work Together NC’s library of mental health services.

Approximate Age: As early as possible & ongoing | Who can help: Individual and Family

Resources: Healthcare services library

Explore options for peer support and other community-based resources.

Approximate Age: As early as possible & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, School, Adult service providers

Resources: NAMI

If appropriate, assume additional responsibility for mental health care needs (making appointments, etc).

Approximate Age: 16 | Who can help: Individual with help of others

Resources: 5 important daily living skills Basic life skills for adults with disabilities

Complete a needs assessment with your managed care organization.

Approximate Age: 17 | Who can help: Individual, Family, and MCO

Resources: NC SNAP LME MCO directory

Review insurance coverage for mental health services: inform insurance company of child’s disability and investigate rider of continued eligibility.

Approximate Age: 17 | Who can help: Individual and Family

Resources: Child riders on life insurance info

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Disclaimer: These action plans are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be comprehensive, and should not be taken as legal advice. Services and programs mentioned may vary by county. Please consult with professionals with expertise in this topic area for guidance specific to you, your family or student/client’s situation. The “approximate age” listed with each item is a general recommendation for when to get started on an action item; however, everyone has a different timeline and for many of the items, it’s never too late to take action! Have a suggested correction or addition to this checklist? Email worktogethernc@med.unc.edu.