Are you entitled to ask for your medical records when your doctor moves to another area and takes them with him? – Dylan* Yes. It is the law that doctors must give patients copies of their medical records when they ask. Very rarely, doctors deny requests, but must explain why. If you're younger than 18, your parent or guardian will probably need to request your medical records. Check with your doctor's office about their policy. What Are Medical Records? Medical records provide information about your past medical care and your medical history . It's a good idea to ask for copies of your medical records if you move or change health care providers. Getting some records now — such as medical problems and test results, medicine lists, and immunization records — will make filling out forms and answering questions about past medical care easier. How Do I Get My Medical Records? If your doctor moved away but the former office is: Open: Contact the office staff there to get your medical records. Closed: Contact the staff at your doctor's new office to get your medical records. If your doctor is retired or no longer seeing patients, your records are still maintained. A doctor's office generally has 30 to 60 days to provide you with copies of your medical records after you ask. When you pick up your records, come prepared to provide your identification and signature. This is to protect your privacy. Making copies of your records and/or mailing them sometimes requires a small fee to cover the cost. Electronic health records (EHR) are becoming more common. EHRs store health records online. Patient portals let you access your medical records anytime on your own device. You can view or print important parts of your chart with no cost. Eventually, having to pay and wait for medical records should become a thing of the past! *Names have been changed to protect user privacy. Back to Articles Related Articles Your Medical Records Each time you hop up on a doctor's exam table, somebody makes a note in your medical records. There may come a time when you need your medical information, so find out how to get it and how it's protected. Read More Electronic Health Records Because EHRs improve how well your doctors talk to each other and coordinate your treatment, they can enhance your medical care. Get the facts on electronic health records. Read More Managing Your Medical Care Visit our center on managing your medical care for advice on how to get involved in taking charge of your health and choosing the right health care providers. Read More How Can I Take Charge of My Own Medical Care? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Health Insurance: Cracking the Code Health insurance has a language all its own. This article for teens explains what some key terms mean. Read More Taking Charge of Your Medical Care Figuring out health care is part of becoming an independent adult. Here are tips for teens on what that involves, and how to choose your own doctor. Read More Talking to Your Doctor Your best resource for health information and advice is your doctor - the person who knows you, your medical history, and accurate medical information to answer your questions. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.