Happy Sunday!
Another new week is starting. Winter is still in full force and I am STILL wishing I could jet off to a Caribbean island for a warm weather retreat. And delicious food, but most importantly time with my husband. Thankfully, while I can’t go to the islands right now, I do have a trip to look forward to in the future. Island time, take me away! 
We had such a wonderful time visiting our son at college last weekend. I can’t believe sometimes that he is in college. I feel blessed that he is there. When he first started college, he had a freak accident that required back surgery. Scariest moment I have ever had in regards to my kids. Thinking about it now made me want to share a few things if your children are headed to college. And it is even good advice for those of you that have kids already in college.
3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Child Heads Off To College:
- Verify your health insurance. Call your health insurance company to find out if the local hospital is in-network or out-of-network. It could mean the difference between being fully covered or having to pay for out-of-network services, it could end up being in the thousands or even hundred thousands.It is a great time as well to verify any co-pays, referrals, or documentation you may need to give to the insurance company. Thankfully I thought to do this step before he left(never imagining I would actually HAVE to know it), so we knew what services we would definitely be responsible for, like the ER copay at the hospital near his school.
- Secure medical power of attorney. This is especially important if your child is over 18. They are legally able to make their own decisions regarding medical treatment. But what happens if they are unable to speak for themselves? By having a medical power of attorney in place beforehand, you would be able to make any difficult decisions regarding possible end-of-life decisions.It is a tough topic, but one you need to discuss with your child. They may not like the topic, but it is an important one. And one that should be made together.
- Release of information. Have your child sign a release of information document with you as a person that is able to have full access to any medical records. Since our son was over 18, he had to keep giving verbal consent for physicians, technicians, and other medical personnel to talk to us. When you are already scared and in pain, this can become very annoying.
So while we don’t want to think about our children being injured, if it does happen, you will be prepared with these important medical issues. Being prepared will allow you to focus on helping your child recover, and you will have less to worry about with administrative tasks.
With all the excitement of college, being prepared for the unexpected is probably the last thing on your mind, but as someone who’s been through it, it only takes a few moments of your time and will give you a peace of mind.
Ok, enough about the heavy. I hope that you have a wonderful week, and I look forward to chatting with you again!
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