Young adult health care readiness lags, Michigan poll finds

Young adult health care readiness may be falling short as many 18- to 25-year-olds take on legal responsibility for medical decisions, according to a new national poll from the University of Michigan. The University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health found that nearly 1 in 6 parents said their young adult child does not independently handle any basic health care responsibilities.

The nationally representative report was based on responses from 1,550 parents with at least one child ages 18 to 25 who were surveyed in February. The responsibilities covered by the poll included tasks such as making appointments and giving a family medical history.

Sarah Clark, co-director of the Mott Poll, said the findings point to a transition many families may not fully prepare for. She said turning 18 changes who is legally responsible for health care decisions, while independence in the health system takes practice with providers, appointments, insurance and day-to-day care.

What health care tasks are young adults struggling to do?

The poll found that many young adults do communicate with clinicians during visits and follow medical directions, according to the University of Michigan. Fewer young adults, however, independently decide when they need care, schedule appointments or handle key parts of using the health care system.

Parents most often linked those gaps to limited knowledge and lack of experience. Smaller shares said their young adult child was not mature enough or did not want the responsibility, according to the poll.

More than half of parents gave themselves high marks for preparing their child to take charge of their health. Parents who rated their own preparation lower were much more likely to say their young adult handled none of the basic tasks and to cite unhealthy lifestyle habits as a concern.

How can parents prepare young adults for health care?

Clark said parents can shift routine medical responsibilities gradually rather than handing everything over at once. That can include having teens and young adults book appointments, fill out medical forms, learn how their insurance works and speak directly with health care providers.

The Mott Poll also noted a practical reason to start earlier: parents eventually may not be able to see an adult child's medical record or talk with a clinician without that young adult's permission. Once a child reaches adulthood, health privacy rules can limit a parent's access unless the young adult authorizes it.

For young adults with mental health concerns or chronic medical conditions, Clark said preparation should include knowing the condition, medication names, how to refill prescriptions, how often monitoring visits are needed and what worsens or improves symptoms.

Parents cite screen time, sleep and stress

Parents in the poll were more likely to point to everyday habits than chronic disease as current or possible health problems for their young adult children. More than half cited excessive screen time, while about four in 10 named stress, too little sleep, unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity.

Two in five parents also said the cost of maintaining a healthy lifestyle was a problem for their young adult child. Clark said parents can build health skills outside the doctor's office by involving teens and young adults in grocery shopping, meal planning, exercise and limits on screen use.

The poll's central finding, according to the University of Michigan, is that health care independence is a learned skill. The report says young adults are better positioned to manage their own care when families start building those habits before adulthood.

This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.