Guides for families handling a parent's paperwork
Short, plain-English guides for adult children sorting out an aging parent's Medicare, records and medications. Each one is checked against official sources and lists them at the end.
Last checked against their sources: October 23, 2026.
Medicare
- How to appeal a denied Medicare claim (Part A or Part B): the 120-day redetermination deadline, what to send and where, plus the different clock for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
- How to read your parent's Medicare Summary Notice: each page and column, "Maximum You May Be Billed," assignment, and how to line the MSN up with a provider's bill.
Records and portals
- How to get your parent's medical records: the HIPAA 30-day rule, what providers can charge, authorizations, and who counts as a personal representative.
- How to get proxy access to your parent's patient portal: invitations, power of attorney or guardianship papers, and expiration dates at five health systems.
Medications and organizing
- How to keep one medication list for your parent: what to record, why lists disagree after a hospital stay, and who to ask.
- Caregiver binder checklist: what to collect, from contacts and insurance statements to advance directives and permissions.
Working out an appeal date? Try the free appeal deadline tool.
Turning a pile of paperwork into one binder? Our Parent Binder puts visit notes, medication lists, Medicare statements and bills in date order, with every line cited to its page, and drafts letters for you to review and send. See how it works.
Sources
Each guide lists the official pages it was checked against and the date each one was read.
General information to help you organize, not medical, legal or financial advice. Rules change and individual situations differ: check the official source, the notice you received, or a qualified professional. Starry Night is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, HHS or any health system.