As a teen/young adult, it’s important to know that you have rights too. This includes a legal right to access sexual and reproductive health care that is affordable and confidential. In the state of California, teens can access the following services without needing permission from their parents or anyone else. These are called minor consent services:
Affordability
Teens/young adults have the right to free or low cost services so don’t let money be a reason to not access medical care.
If you do not have insurance and cannot pay yourself:
Confidentiality
A lot of teens/young adults find it hard to talk to their parents, guardians, or partners about some of these sensitive issues and do not access medical resources out of fear that they will find out. In order to encourage young people to feel comfortable accessing medical resources, the state of California passed laws to protect their privacy. Confidentiality means that you can use these resources without anybody else knowing. Your doctor and clinics are required by law to ask for your consent (permission) to release any information.
Limits to Confidentiality
It is important to note that if you receive medical services through your parent/guardian/partner’s insurance, you may not be able to keep your information private, since their insurance may be billed for the services you access. It is important to speak to your insurance about their privacy practices and limits when it comes to your situation. You don’t have to be specific when speaking to your provider about your situation. If you don’t feel comfortable being specific, use non-descript language like “health condition” instead. If you don’t feel comfortable that your information will remain confidential, you can access similar services through
During School Hours
Most teens/young adults aren’t aware that California law permits them to be excused from school to access sexual and reproductive health services WITHOUT needing their parents' or guardians' permission and WITHOUT them being notified.
Per California law:
If you have an appointment for a minor consent service during the school day, your school must excuse your absence. Your school CANNOT notify your parents of your absence or make you request permission from them.
The Importance of Support
Even though you have the right to privacy, it can be very helpful to have support through difficult times. If you do not feel comfortable or safe talking to your parent/guardian/partner about what’s going on, find another friend or adult that you trust to talk to. Click here for information about how to get support.
HIV and STD Testing
In California, if you are 12 years old or older, you can get an HIV test without your parent or guardian’s permission. The test and your results are always confidential. This means that no one will be told that you had a test or what the results were (not your parents, not your boyfriend or girlfriend, not your teacher, or anyone else), unless you give your doctor permission to tell them.
You may also be tested for other STDs (like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) without anyone’s permission, as long as you are 12 or older. If you are having sex, it is very important that you and your partner get tested for all STDs, including HIV. Find out where you can get tested at www.HIVtest.org.
If you are a young woman under the age of 26, you can order a free home test kit for chlamydia and gonorrhea, two very common STDs in young people. Check it out at www.DontThinkKnow.org.
Birth Control, etc
There is no age restriction for other sexual health services, including birth control and pregnancy testing. This means that you may visit a clinic to get birth control or a pregnancy test at any age, and this will remain confidential. To find out where you can get birth control and pregnancy tests in San Diego, you can visit:
If while you are visiting the clinic the doctor or test counselor thinks that you may be in danger or are being abused, then they must legally report that to the proper authorities. This is so that they can get you the right help, and keep you safe.
Additional Information
You can learn more about your rights by visiting http://www.teensource.org/ts/know-your-rights
- Testing and Treatment for STDs/HIV (if you are 12 years old or older)
- Birth Control, including Emergency Contraception
- Pregnancy Testing and Prenatal Care
- Abortion Services
- Mental Health and other services for rape, sexual assault, child abuse, and drug/alcohol treatment. Visit www.teenhealthlaw.org for a complete list of health services.
Affordability
Teens/young adults have the right to free or low cost services so don’t let money be a reason to not access medical care.
If you do not have insurance and cannot pay yourself:
- You can receive STD and HIV testing at these locations at no charge (if you are not able to pay).
- If you test positive for HIV, you can receive funding for both HIV medical care (Ryan White funding) and medications (ADAP) if you are not able to pay.
- California's family planning program, Family PACT, provides teens coverage for many sexual health services like pregnancy tests, prescription birth control, STD testing and treatment, and counseling. It does not pay for abortions, prenatal or maternity care. The services provided under FamilyPACT are confidential. You can sign up for Family PACT at a clinic near you. To find a provider call 800-952-1054 or go to www.familypact.org.
- Medi-Cal, California's state and federally funded Medicaid program, pays for pregnancy-related care, including abortion, if your income is very low. If you're under 21, Medi-Cal only counts the money you earn for yourself, not what your parents earn. Medi-Cal services are confidential. To sign up for Medi-Cal contact your local County office and let them know you are interested in applying for “minor consent Medi-Cal.” Visit www.medi-cal.ca.gov for more information.
- Some clinics have "sliding fee scales" and charge less to people who have less money.
Confidentiality
A lot of teens/young adults find it hard to talk to their parents, guardians, or partners about some of these sensitive issues and do not access medical resources out of fear that they will find out. In order to encourage young people to feel comfortable accessing medical resources, the state of California passed laws to protect their privacy. Confidentiality means that you can use these resources without anybody else knowing. Your doctor and clinics are required by law to ask for your consent (permission) to release any information.
Limits to Confidentiality
It is important to note that if you receive medical services through your parent/guardian/partner’s insurance, you may not be able to keep your information private, since their insurance may be billed for the services you access. It is important to speak to your insurance about their privacy practices and limits when it comes to your situation. You don’t have to be specific when speaking to your provider about your situation. If you don’t feel comfortable being specific, use non-descript language like “health condition” instead. If you don’t feel comfortable that your information will remain confidential, you can access similar services through
During School Hours
Most teens/young adults aren’t aware that California law permits them to be excused from school to access sexual and reproductive health services WITHOUT needing their parents' or guardians' permission and WITHOUT them being notified.
Per California law:
- Schools must excuse you during the school day for confidential "minor consent" health services,
- Schools cannot adopt a policy that requires parent or guardian consent when you are excused from school for confidential medical care; and
- Schools cannot adopt a policy that requires parent or guardian notification when you are excused from school for confidential medical care.
If you have an appointment for a minor consent service during the school day, your school must excuse your absence. Your school CANNOT notify your parents of your absence or make you request permission from them.
The Importance of Support
Even though you have the right to privacy, it can be very helpful to have support through difficult times. If you do not feel comfortable or safe talking to your parent/guardian/partner about what’s going on, find another friend or adult that you trust to talk to. Click here for information about how to get support.
HIV and STD Testing
In California, if you are 12 years old or older, you can get an HIV test without your parent or guardian’s permission. The test and your results are always confidential. This means that no one will be told that you had a test or what the results were (not your parents, not your boyfriend or girlfriend, not your teacher, or anyone else), unless you give your doctor permission to tell them.
You may also be tested for other STDs (like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) without anyone’s permission, as long as you are 12 or older. If you are having sex, it is very important that you and your partner get tested for all STDs, including HIV. Find out where you can get tested at www.HIVtest.org.
If you are a young woman under the age of 26, you can order a free home test kit for chlamydia and gonorrhea, two very common STDs in young people. Check it out at www.DontThinkKnow.org.
Birth Control, etc
There is no age restriction for other sexual health services, including birth control and pregnancy testing. This means that you may visit a clinic to get birth control or a pregnancy test at any age, and this will remain confidential. To find out where you can get birth control and pregnancy tests in San Diego, you can visit:
- TeenSource.org – Find a Clinic
If while you are visiting the clinic the doctor or test counselor thinks that you may be in danger or are being abused, then they must legally report that to the proper authorities. This is so that they can get you the right help, and keep you safe.
Additional Information
You can learn more about your rights by visiting http://www.teensource.org/ts/know-your-rights