Advocate for your Child
As we wrap up with this month’s Tuesday Tips, I want to return to one of the most powerful tools in healthcare: an advocate. Advocates can act as autonomously as you need and are—importantly—there to support YOU, and you alone. Whether you want someone to take over large portions of your health care management or if you just want some support along the way, advocates are both versatile and impactful.
Let me know if any of these scenarios seem familiar to you:
My child is going to college far away. They’re scared that I can’t be there to help if something goes wrong. I’m scared too.
I work long hours and I’m afraid that I may not be responsive if a medical emergency happens at school or home.
My college-age child isn’t ready to handle all of their own health care and insurance needs. I want an expert to help support them and answer questions while they learn to be independent.
I feel lost within the healthcare landscape, and I’m concerned that I may not be able to answer my child’s questions, find the right insurance, or get them the best quality care.
For your college-bound child: It’s healthy to have some separation as your child moves into their next life chapter. At the same time, it’s good to have peace of mind, both for you and your child.
For your K-12 children: Managing one’s own health care can be a lot of work, so no wonder it’s so hard to manage it for multiple people. Then, add a career, special medical needs, or a variety of other life circumstances and the responsibility can quickly become too much to bear.
These and similar situations are where advocates can uniquely help you. You can hire one in whatever state your child is in so they’re ready and able to respond in ways you might not be able to. They can be heavily involved in your child’s health care, or they can be hired on retainer to swoop in if and when your child needs them most.
Do any of these scenarios seem helpful to you? Don’t hesitate to give me a call!