WHAT IS A HIPAA RELEASE FORM?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was created by Congress in 1996 to protect your healthcare information. In order for anyone other than yourself to access your your medical information or talk to your doctor, they need to have a current HIPPA Release Form. This is especially important to have if you or a loved one has a caregiver that should be able to talk with their doctor. Along with an Advance Healthcare Directive and Power of attorney, the HIPPA Release Form is only used during one's lifetime incase someone needs to step in help with healthcare.

BASIC ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS

WHERE CAN I GET A HIPAA RELEASE FORM?

Many estate planners, like our firm, include this form as part of a comprehensive estate plan. You can also get the form from your healthcare provider. As with an Advance Health-care Directive and Power of attorney, the HIPAA release form should be updated at least every five years to ensure it still reflects your wishes.

ONE PART OF AN ESTATE PLAN

A HIPAA release form is just one of the basic documents that make up a comprehensive estate The basic estate planning documents generally consist of the following: a will, disposition of remains, revocable living trust (if needed), durable power of attorney, advance health care directive, and HIPAA Release Form.

JOHN ROTH

John is the founder of Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel, a statewide Hawaii estate planning law firm with offices in Waimea, Hilo, Kona, and Honolulu. He has taught Estate Planning at the Richardson School of Law, and business law courses at the University of Hawaii—Hilo. He has resided in North Hawaii since 2008....MORE

MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION

Estate Planning is necessary because, as the old expression goes, "You can't take it with you" and you never know what's going to happen in life. The estate planning documents of an advance health-care directive, power of attorney, and sometimes a trust help someone step into your shoes to make decisions on your behalf, during your lifetime. Then after your lifetime, you may need a will or will substitute, such as a revocable living trust, if they want to control who inherits their property and how and when that inheritance is received, to minimize administration costs, and to avoid unnecessary taxes. A well-planned estate is a gift to your loved ones and provides you peace of mind. It is part of your legacy.

Everyone has a different story and should have a unique estate plan. In most cases, the first meeting with one of our attorneys is complementary and serves the purpose of understanding your goals and educating you on your options. Depending on the option that is right for you, we will give you a price quote at the first meeting, before moving forward with your plan. Feel free to explore the basic information on our website.

Learn More ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING

This blog does not contain legal advice. You should not rely on this to determine what is in your own best interest. For legal advice, specific to your situation, you must meet with an attorney. All posts are based on hypothetical scenarios, not the actual circumstances of real clients.

LEARN MORE

What assets should be in my trust?

What assets should you put in your trust? Avoiding probate, planning in case of incapacity, and making things as easier for loved ones after your death are all things to consider.

Do I need estate planning?

An initial estate planning meeting is recommended for most people, because it's a face-to-face opportunity to understand what your options are. There are five general categories or times in your life, where estate planning should be done.

Who should be the guardian of my child?

If something were to happen were to happen to you, who would take care of your child? With a will or trust you can nominate someone you trust to care for your child. Attorney John Roth explains the difference between a guardian and a conservator and how to set and age of inheritance with your estate plan.

What is a HIPAA release form?