I'm caring for someone
How do I choose a patient advocate?
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Start with what you need help with: bills, insurance, or the care itself. Then choose someone who has done that kind of work, explains their price in writing, and puts your parent's wishes first. A credential helps, but it is not the whole story: ask how they work and who pays them.
What to do
- Write down the one or two problems you need help with, and what a good outcome would look like.
- Ask two or three advocates the same questions: their experience with cases like yours, how they charge, and whether anyone else pays them.
- Get the scope, the price and the permission forms in writing, and make sure your parent, or their legal representative, agrees.
What to say
Have you helped with a situation like ours? How do you charge, does anyone else pay you, like a hospital, insurer or care facility, and what will you need from us to get started?
Ask every advocate the same questions, so you can compare the answers side by side.
What to watch out for
This is a sensitive stepSmall details here can change the outcome, and some mistakes are hard to undo. We highly recommend a free 15-minute call with us before you decide.
Leaving your parent out of the choice. An advocate works for the patient. If your parent can still decide, include them and have them sign the permission forms. If they can't, the person with health care power of attorney usually signs.
Also: choosing someone who is paid by a facility or company that gains from the decision you make. Ask who pays them, and get the answer in writing.
Better done together
We’re here to help
Choosing someone to stand beside your parent is a big decision, and it often has to happen fast, in the middle of a hospital stay or a pile of bills. It helps to talk it through with someone who knows what good help looks like.
Book a free 15-minute call and ask us the questions on this page. We'll answer plainly, and tell you honestly if our free guides are all you need. If we're a fit, you get a written not-to-exceed estimate before any paid work, then $150 an hour, billed to the minute. We never take commissions from insurance companies.
Every situation is different, and these are sensitive moments, so we look at yours with care. We often see what others miss, and we never take commissions from insurance companies: the only thing we are working for is what is right for you.
Free · 15 minutes · No pressure
The rule behind it
The Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) credential comes from the Patient Advocate Certification Board, a professional board, not a government agency. To earn it, advocates qualify through education or documented experience, pass an exam, and must follow the board's Code of Professional Responsibility to keep using the credential. They renew every three years. CMS notes that many hospitals have patient advocates on staff, at no cost to you. To share your parent's health information with a private advocate, providers usually need your parent's written permission (a HIPAA authorization, 45 CFR 164.508), or the signature of their personal representative, such as an agent under a health care power of attorney (45 CFR 164.502(g)).
Sources
- Patient Advocate Certification Board — Earning the BCPA credential
- Patient Advocate Certification Board — Eligibility
- Patient Advocate Certification Board — Stay certified (renew every three years)
- Patient Advocate Certification Board — Code of Professional Responsibility
- CMS — Find a patient advocate to help you navigate the healthcare system
- 45 CFR 164.508 — HIPAA authorizations
- 45 CFR 164.502 — personal representatives (paragraph (g))
Amanda Alcodia
Last reviewed: October 2026
Education, not medical, legal or insurance advice.
Useful next steps
Start with the free Kit. If your situation needs a person, the intro call is free too.