This step-by-step guide teaches ways to foster teen health care independence, transitioning responsibilities and preparing for adult care.

Published: July 14, 2025

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

As your teenager grows into a young adult, an important life skill you can help them develop is managing their own health care.

“From a young age, parents can instill healthy habits like nutrition and exercise, but as a child gets older, teaching them to take ownership over their health care is empowering,” said Heather M. Felton, M.D., pediatrician with Norton Children’s Medical Group. “Transitioning some of your parental responsibilities over to your teen happens gradually, and this process can help set them up for success in the future.”

Preparing your teen for health care independence isn’t just about scheduling appointments; it teaches them the importance of advocating for themselves as an adult. This transition to health care independence becomes especially important as teens approach 18, when they legally become fully responsible for their own medical decisions and health care records.

How to help your teen build health care independence skills

When it comes to developing teen health care independence, there is no better way to teach than providing practical, real-world tasks. Here are three skills you can start teaching your child when they become a teenager:

1. Communication with health care providers: Instead of speaking for them at appointments, encourage your teen to speak directly with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals during appointments.
2. Understanding medications and treatments: Help your teen learn about the medications they take regularly, including dosages, timing and potential side effects. If they have a chronic health condition, ensure they understand their treatment plan and can explain it to others if needed.
3. Scheduling and managing appointments: This practical skill requires both phone communication and navigating platforms like Norton MyChart and email.
   

A step-by-step guide to teen health care independence

Transfer responsibilities one at a time rather than all at once. This prevents your teen from feeling overwhelmed while ensuring they master each skill before moving to the next. Let them know it’s always OK to ask questions or request help, even as they become more independent.

Even as your teen takes over more responsibilities, continue to show an interest in their physical and mental health, and help them find proper supports as needed.

Here’s a practical timeline you can use, based on your teen’s maturity level:

Visit 1: Direct communication
During your teen’s next appointment, step back and allow them to answer the health care provider’s questions directly. Resist the urge to answer first or speak over them. This helps your teen practice addressing their health concerns and builds their confidence in medical settings.

Visit 2: Scheduling practice
Have your teen call or use Norton MyChart to schedule their next appointment while you’re nearby for support or to answer questions. Let them handle the conversation, including confirming insurance information and appointment details.

Visit 3: Independence with backup
Your teen schedules and attends the appointment independently, but you’re available in the waiting room if needed.

Ongoing development
Continue building on these experiences by having your teen manage their prescription refills, communicate with providers about concerns between visits and take responsibility for following through on recommended treatments or lifestyle changes. Be there for support if needed, but they should be encouraged to handle everything independently through their provider’s office.

Managing medical records and teen health care independence

When your child turns 13, they begin to gain more privacy rights over their health information, including via Norton MyChart.

Due to some state and federal laws providing additional rights for teens’ medical records, patients between ages 13 and 17 must sign an assent agreement granting permission for a parent to access their medical record. If the child declines permission, neither the patient, parent or guardian may access the medical record through Norton MyChart. This form can be signed at your child’s medical provider’s office.

Children must be younger than age 18 for parents to gain proxy access. Access will be removed on the child’s 18th birthday. Parents and caregivers can regain access if they meet certain conditions.

Support transitioning from pediatric to adult care

As your teen gains more health care independence, Norton Children’s offers several programs specifically designed to help pediatric patients seamlessly transition to adult care with Norton Healthcare.

Norton Community Medical Associates offers continuity as your teen transitions to adult primary care. Your child’s medical records will remain within the same Norton MyChart platform, providing seamless access to their health history and overall care. Check with your child’s pediatrician’s office; the right age to transition from pediatric to adult care can vary by office.

Specialized transition care programs, such as the Transition to Adult Diabetes Program through Norton Children’s Endocrinology, are specifically designed to help teens with chronic conditions learn to manage their care as they move toward adulthood.

The Norton MyChart app provides a secure platform for messaging providers, reviewing test results, requesting prescription refills and managing appointment requests.