Medical Insurance, HIPPA and Living Wills

[LisaMB]

Hello everybody, my son leaves for BC two weeks from tomorrow! My mind is racing with things that need to be done. A few things I want to clarify:

1. When does their medical insurance coverage begin with the Navy? Will we get something in writing so that we can request him to be removed from our policy?

2. What is the deal with this HIPPA form, that allows us to be notified of his medical condition if he is ill/injured? Is that something he needs to fill out be fore he goes? Where can I find it?

3. Should he complete a living will before he goes, or will he be given the opportunity to do that at BC?

Thanks all for your input! I have learned so much more from this site than I have from my son! 

[Anti M]

He is covered immediately, but don't remove him until he graduates from boot camp.  If he is sent home for any reason, he will need to be on your insurance.  He can get proof of coverage from Tricare while he's in A school.

Normally they only do soemthing with the HIPPA if injury/illness occurs.  You may be able to get a release made up, but not sure how he'd get it into his record during boot camp.  Have him do a general one, and you can hang onto it, and fax it in if needed.

http://www.healthcare-information-guide.com/support-files/hipaa-rel...

HIPAA STATUTE (Medical Records)

Protected Health Information – The Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects all “individually identifiable health information” held or transmitted by a covered entity or its business associates, in any form or media, whether electronic, paper or oral. Accordingly, Recruit Training Command (RTC) is unable to disclose any medical information about a recruit to an outside party without the recruit's written permission.

He should do a standard living will before he departs, and leave it with you, along with a limited power of attorney in case you need to deal with bills/cellphone etc.

[Angie]

The only time you will be notified about anything while he is in bootcamp, is if he lets you know something is going on.  otherwise the Navy treats him as an adult and doesn't disclose his information to anyone.  The HIPPA paper work, if needed is filled out by him while he is in bootcamp...BUT that is only done when they are being separated due to a medical reason and the recruit wants their parents to be able to talk to medical about what is wrong with them.

He will not be given the chance to do a will or a living will while in bootcamp, once he is out of bootcamp he can go to legal and have them write one up though.

[lemonelephant]

The HIPPA form also comes into play for a recruit who has a temporary stay at the hospital and/or at the RCU  to recover from an injury or illness before going on to complete BC.

[lemonelephant]

Be sure to check out the discussion, Things to Do in the Last Month Before Your Future Sailor Leaves for the RTC. That may be what has brought up these questions, but I just want to make sure you have seen it.

1. As Anti M indicated, his insurance begins when he is sworn in at MEPS, but although I generally say to plan for the recruit to graduate on time, this is one time that I say, be cautious and keep him on insurance until he has PIR just in case there is a problem and he is separated.  You can check with your provider to see how easy it would be to put him back on if you were to take him off, but most find it best to just keep the recruit on until PIR.

2. The HIPAA form or medical information waiver form would come into play if your recruit were to be injured and sent to the hospital or RCU.  Your recruit would sign the form if something happened to allow his caregivers to speak with you about his condition.

3. If he chooses to complete a living will, you need to do that before he leaves.

 

[LisaMB]

Thank you all for your answers!