Visiting the doctor can be intimidating if you’ve never spoken to a healthcare professional about your sexual health. The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will guide you through the process and provide you with key resources and knowledge that will help you receive the best care.
BROWSE BY TOPIC
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Minors can consent to:
- Emergency care
- Screening and treatment of contagious and reportable diseases, including STIs such as chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV
- Prenatal and delivery care related to pregnancy
- Some immunizations if pregnant or parenting
- Counseling for suicidal ideation, chemical addiction or dependency, and sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
Other medical services and treatments may require caregiver consent.
If you are under 18 and need a prescription medication, you must obtain medical consent from a designated medical consenter or seek court authorization to be your own medical consenter.
There are some exceptions where people under the age 18 can consent to all medical care, including if legally emancipated, married, serving in the armed forces, pregnant (except for abortion), confined in an adult prison (except for abortion), and if they are 16 or older and managing their own finances.
Yes! Whether or not you want to be on birth control and which method you want to use is entirely your choice.
Caseworkers cannot attempt to prohibit you from seeking contraceptive services, and you may request them from your healthcare provider. It is your healthcare provider’s responsibility to determine if adult consent is required.
You cannot be punished for seeking out contraception. However, some foster families may not agree with your decision to seek out birth control, and they are not obligated to help you get it. In this circumstance talk to your caseworker.
Also, no one can force you to take birth control. It is your right to say “NO.”
You may be able to get contraception without adult permission by visiting a Medicaid/STAR Health provider or Title X Clinic. You may contact the provider for further information, as guidelines can change.
You can get free condoms at any Title X Clinic or sometimes even your healthcare provider.
You do not need consent from another party, including your caregiver or foster parent, to obtain contraception if you visit a Medicaid/STAR Health provider or a Title X Clinic.
Talk to your caseworker and ask to see your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will help you decide if you are a good candidate for birth control and discuss what consent you may need to obtain.
You can access free or low-cost confidential reproductive health services, including contraceptives, at a Title X Clinic.
You do not need consent from another party, including your caregiver or foster parent, to obtain contraception if you visit a Medicaid/ STAR Health provider or a Title X Clinic.
Your caseworker or a trusted adult may be able to help you with transportation.
You can also contact SafeRide, Superior Health’s medical ride program that provides transportation to non-emergency health-care appointments for STAR, STAR Health, STAR Kids, and STAR+PLUS members* who have no other transportation options. These trips include rides to the doctor, dentist, hospital, pharmacy, and other places you get Medicaid services.
DFPS policy states that any prescription medication, including contraceptives that are taken regularly (e.g., birth control pills), must be kept in a secure and locked location at all times and only administered by the caregiver. This means you are not allowed to keep your prescription contraceptives. Instead, your foster parent, CPS nurse, or prescription medication manager in your group home or residential treatment center is required to store them for you and will give them to you as prescribed.
Long-acting birth control methods (e.g., IUDs or implants) are inserted by a healthcare provider. In this case, you don’t have to take medication daily.
You have the right to be treated with respect regardless of race, skin color, place where you were born, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ability, immigration status, financial status, health status, or parental status. If you feel discriminated against, talk to your social worker, attorney, or the Foster Care Ombudsman:
- Call 844-286-0769, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- If you have a hearing or speech disability, call the toll-free Relay Texas service at 7-1-1 or 800-735-2989
- Submit your question or complaint online
- Sexual health screening, exam, and counseling
- STI testing and treatment
- PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
- Condoms
- Pregnancy prevention counseling
- Testicular cancer screenings
- Well Women Exams (pap test for ages 21 and older)
- Menstrual cycle concerns (heavy, irregular, or painful)
- Breast exams
- Pregnancy testing, prenatal care, and pregnancy services
- Information and consultations on prescription and non-prescription contraceptives
Yes. Your caregiver or caseworker may recommend someone, but it is your right to choose your medical provider.
You may want to consider the different types of healthcare providers and the different services they each provide, such as pediatricians, adolescent health providers, OB/GYN, and family practice providers. These providers may or may not be Title X providers, so if confidentiality is your priority, ask your provider whether they are a Title X provider.
AFFORDABILITY
If you are in foster care, you have access to Medicaid or STAR Health, which entitles you to full coverage for most sexual and reproductive health services. We encourage you to ask your provider before you receive any services. For any coverage questions, you can reach out to STAR Health Member Services at 1-866-912-6283.
Minors have the best guarantee of receiving confidential low-cost or free reproductive healthcare at Title X Clinics. Learn how to schedule an appointment at a Title X Clinic.
If you are aging out of care, you may still be eligible to keep your STAR Health benefits until you are 21. Talk to a transition specialist to help you stay up to date. More information can be found on the Star Health website.
Free condoms are available at many health centers. Talk to a trusted adult who can help you identify a health center to visit. You may also find free condoms at most Title X Clinics.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the expected cost. If there is a discrepancy, ask them to clarify any questions you may have or contact their billing department.
You can contact STAR Health Member Services at 1-866-912-6283 for additional help, or talk to your caseworker, CASA, or attorney for guidance. You can also ask your healthcare provider if they have a health advocate available to help you navigate any problems.
PRIVACY
Before you accept any services, you have the right to ask your healthcare provider to explain what their policies are on confidentiality and what they may need to report. Your provider will ask your parent/guardian to step out of the room before they ask you questions or do an exam.
Any person that is enrolled in their state’s Medicaid program (including STAR Health) and seeing a Medicaid provider is guaranteed confidential access to sexual and reproductive health services by federal law, which includes any sexual health visits and all types of birth control, even for people under the age of 18. However, there are limitations to confidentiality, including:
- Reporting requirements for abuse, suicidal ideation, and some contagious STIs.
- Treatments on healthcare passport: If you are using STAR Medicaid to pay for your services, note that treatments or services may show up on your healthcare passport and your medical consenter or caseworker may have access to it.
- Prescription medication: If you are prescribed medication, including contraceptives, your foster parent, CPS nurse, or staff in your group home or residential treatment center is required to store them for you and will give them to you as prescribed.
Minors have the best guarantee of receiving confidential reproductive healthcare in a Title X Clinic.
Any person that is enrolled in their state’s Medicaid program (including STAR Health) and seeing a Medicaid provider is guaranteed confidential access to sexual and reproductive health services by federal law, which includes any sexual health visits and all types of birth control, even for people under the age of 18. However, there are limitations to confidentiality, including:
- Reporting requirements for abuse, suicidal ideation, and some contagious STIs.
- Treatments on healthcare passport: If you are using STAR Medicaid to pay for your services, note that treatments or services may show up on your healthcare passport and your medical consenter or caseworker may have access to it.
- Prescription medication: If you are prescribed medication, including contraceptives, your foster parent, CPS nurse, or staff in your group home or residential treatment center is required to store them for you and will give them to you as prescribed.
Minors have the best guarantee of receiving confidential low-cost or free reproductive healthcare at Title X Clinics.
It is always a good idea to call and ask this question when making an appointment. Experiences may differ based on provider and clinic setting, but generally:
- You can expect to spend about 50-60 minutes at your appointment. Complex cases may require more time to coordinate the most adequate care.
- When you arrive, you will check in with the front desk staff and fill out some paperwork. These forms cover basic information about yourself and your health history. The forms also help the provider see if you qualify for any program to make your visit discounted or free. Front desk staff are happy to answer any questions you might have about the forms you are asked to fill out.
- Next, you will be taken into either an exam or counseling room, depending on the service you are being seen for. The staff will take your vital signs (height, weight, blood pressure, etc.) as needed and ask you some basic questions. These questions will help your care team know how they can best help you.
- The healthcare provider will start by asking more detailed questions about your health history and concerns/symptoms if you have any. Depending on the reason for your visit, you may be asked to do a physical exam and any tests, such as a urine sample.
- If you are asked to do a physical exam, the staff will provide you with instructions on undressing and putting on an examination gown. Your healthcare provider should explain every step of the exam and ask for consent at every step. You can always ask them to stop for any reason or ask them to explain what they are doing and why. You also have the right to request a chaperone to be in the room during the exam if another person is not already scheduled to do so.
- In other cases, your healthcare provider may just want to chat with you, clothes on. You will be given an opportunity to speak with the staff about any concerns you have and ask as many questions as you would like. The staff will provide you with information on next steps and how to get results of your examination if you had one.
- Once your visit is over, you will check out. This will be the time to pick up any supplies or prescriptions and schedule any future visits. It is also the time the front desk will collect payment. Depending on the treatment you received and type of clinic you visit, you may be asked to pay with your insurance (such as STAR Health/Medicaid), cash, debit, or credit. Staff may also provide you with information on any special programs to make your visit more affordable.
- Identification
- Insurance card
- Cash or debit or credit card if you expect to pay out of pocket
- Proof of income if you are inquiring about low-cost or free services
- List and dosages of any other medications you are taking. If you take multiple medications, it may be easier to bring the bottles or a digital record from your pharmacy if available.
- What are the different services you provide for teens?
- Do many teens come to this clinic?
- Will I have to pay for this visit? Do teens have to pay?
- If a payment is required, how much will I pay?
- Do you accept Medicaid/STAR Health?
- Will Medicaid cover the cost of the visit?
- Will Medicaid cover any prescriptions?
- Are my records confidential? Can my foster parent or social worker get access to my records?
- What are the clinic hours?
- Do I need to make an appointment, or does the clinic accept walk-ins?
- Do I make an appointment online or by phone?
- Who can I bring to the clinic visit with me?
- Is the clinic accessible by public transportation?
- If this is my first sexual health exam, will someone explain to me what to expect before the exam begins (Feel free to ask someone from the care team to explain what to expect)
The healthcare provider will ask you a set of questions to learn more about you, your medical history, and the reasons for your visit. It may be that you’ve already told some of the information to other people, but it is important that the healthcare provider hears this information directly from you and can ask follow-up questions. It is the only way to make sure that they understand your concerns and help you come up with a good healthcare plan.
You may be asked about:
- Basic information – name, birth date, contact information
- Your medical history
- Reasons for your visit
- Your symptoms (if any)
- Your sexual history
- Your mental health, nutrition, and physical activity
- Your drug or alcohol use (as these may affect treatments)
- Your experiences with abuse or intimate partner violence
- Your last menstrual cycle (if applicable)
- Past pregnancies (if applicable)
- Your lifestyle
- What exactly is going to happen during this visit?
- Who else will be or can be in the exam room?
- How long will this visit take?
Contraception:
- What are my choices for birth control?
- What’s going to happen when I use birth control?
- How do I use this method?
- What are some side effects of this contraception method?
- What happens if I miss a dose? (If applicable)
- If I think something is wrong, who do I contact?
Prescriptions:
- How do I get my prescription?
- How do I get a prescription refill?
Testing:
- How do you do this test?
- How long does it take to get results back?
- How will I get the results? Can I choose how you contact me?
- If the test comes back positive, will you contact my partner/parent/guardian/caseworker/foster parent?
Yes, but some providers may not provide all methods and they may need to place it on a special order or refer you to a provider that has your preferred method.
Yes! Your care team should give you the option of how you receive communication related to your visit based on the clinic’s policies. Some communication platforms limit the ability to protect your health information, so discuss your preferences with your care team beforehand.
Clinics have different ways for you to stay engaged with your care team and healthcare provider after the visit, including online patient portals. Patient portals are safe, secure online platforms to communicate any questions or concerns you have with your healthcare provider after your clinic visit. You can also view lab results, schedule appointments, and review your personal health information using the portal from a smartphone or computer. Not all clinics have patient portals, so you can call the clinic as needed. When you see your healthcare provider, you may be provided with other contact information should you have side effects or questions. If you don’t receive information on ways to stay connected about your health matters by the end of your visit, you may ask someone from your care team.
You have the right to change your mind about any treatment plan. You are free to choose which medications you want to take or not. However, your caregivers in the foster care system are required to abide by certain recommendations to ensure your wellbeing. Speak to your healthcare provider and caseworker before making any decisions and if you have any questions or concerns about side effects. If you feel your concerns are not being valued by the healthcare provider, consider seeking a second opinion, if possible, to meet your health needs.
Consent means giving permission for something to happen or agreeing to do something. In this resource, consent refers to the ability to agree to receive medical care. Patients have the right to receive information and ask questions about treatments so they can make decisions about their care.
A minor is a person under 18 years of age who has never been married and never been declared an adult by a court.
Confidentiality means that anything you share will remain private. Confidentiality is one of the core duties of medical practice, and healthcare providers are required to keep a patient’s personal health information private unless consent or permission to release the information is provided by the patient. In some cases, your provider may be legally obligated to report or release information you provided in confidence if they are worried about your or someone else’s safety.
In this resource, the healthcare provider is the person treating your medical condition and can be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
Youth-friendly health services emphasize confidentiality, provide flexible hours and affordable fees, and offer a wide range of services.
Title X Clinics provide counseling and education about sexual and reproductive health. Clinics also offer contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy diagnosis and counseling, and cancer screening.
Title X Clinics provide sexual and reproductive healthcare regardless of the client’s ability to pay, insurance status, age, immigration, or citizenship status, or possession of a government-issued ID.
With the exception of obtaining contraception, minors may consent to their own confidential care at a Title X Clinic. Minors may be able to option contraception at a Title X Clinic without adult permission, but may contact the provider for further information, as guidelines can change. There are approximately 200 Title X Clinics across Texas.
- Hormonal methods like the IUD, the pill, and the implant;
- Barrier methods like diaphragms and internal and external condoms; and
- Traditional family planning
STIs are infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual activity. Anybody who has oral sex, anal sex, vaginal sex, genital skin-to-skin contact, or who shares sexual fluids with another person can get STIs. Common STIs are trichomoniasis, HPV, herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and bacterial vaginosis.
The terms STD and STI (sexually transmitted disease/infection) are used interchangeably but are different. An STI is an infection, much like any stomach bug or cold, and is the step before the disease. If caught and treated early, some infections (STIs) can be prevented from developing into a disease (STD).
Using internal or external latex or polyurethane condoms and dental dams can significantly reduce the risk of contracting or spreading an infection. You can also reduce your risk of getting an STI by reducing your number of sexual partners. The only guaranteed protection against STIs is abstaining from sexual activity or only having sex with one STI-negative partner.
For more information on STIs and STDs and how to prevent them visit the resources below. It is important to remember to get tested often and seek treatment immediately if you test positive for an STI.
