Minor/Patient Rights

Know Your Rights as a Minor- In Oklahoma, if you are under the age of 18, you are considered a minor.

Being a minor can affect your ability to self-consent to access to preventive sexual health services.

CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES

Teens can access contraception and birth control without a parent if they are at least 18 years old. This means that teens generally cannot self-consent to contraceptive services. However, there are certain situations where teens can self-consent to these services.

Some teens* can access contraception if they are:

• A minor who is married
• A minor with a dependent child
• A minor who is emancipated
• A minor who is independent of their parents/guardians and supporting themselves
• A minor who is or has been pregnant, afflicted with a communicable disease or drug/alcohol abuse problem

Clinics may ask for documentation to support any of these qualifications (e.g. court order, pay stub, etc). Be sure to ask if you need to bring anything to your visit, when you call to make an appointment.

Many teens CAN self-consent in these instances:

• Any minor at a Title X clinic
• A minor who is insured through SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid)

Not all clinics apply! Check out the list of teen-friendly clinics to see which ones do, or ask about self-consent when you call to make an appointment.

*IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY

Even though you may be able to see a doctor without your parent, that does not assure confidentiality. Healthcare providers have the right to inform your parents about any treatment needed or provided to you at your visit. Also, if you receive services using your parent’s insurance, some private insurers will send a letter explaining the benefits used, or an “EOB,” to the address of the policy holder (i.e. parent). This means the policy holder may be informed of the services you received at your visit.

Although we encourage you and your parent/ guardian to communicate openly and honestly about sexual health, we understand that is not always the case. If you have any concerns about the confidentiality of your visit, be sure to ask your healthcare provider who has access to your records and who will see the bill. TALK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS.