Moving to adult care

Moving from children's care to adult care usually happens between 18 and 26. Planning works best when it starts around 12 to 14.

1. Ask your complex care clinic for a transition plan and a timeline.
2. Help your teen learn to explain their conditions, medicines and devices, as much as they can.
3. Find adult doctors who will see adults with conditions that began in childhood. Ask the pediatric team for names.
4. Ask for a medical summary to take to each new doctor.

• At 18: your child is an adult in law. Talk early about supported decision-making, powers of attorney and, only when needed, guardianship.
• At 18: SSIWhat does SSI mean?? looks again under adult rules, and parent income stops counting.
• At 21: the Medicaid EPSDT benefit ends. Nursing hours and some equipment may be covered differently under adult Medicaid or a waiver. Plan for it years ahead.
• Up to 26: young adults can usually stay on a parent's private health plan.

More on turning 18 and guardianship and its alternatives on IDD Atlas.

Adult complex care programs are fewer than children's. Ask your state's medical school and large health systems, and search adult care (on Disability Atlas).