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Guide · 45 CFR § 164.524

How to get your medical records for a new doctor, a disability claim, or a lawyer

Getting a copy of your own medical records is a federal right — the HIPAA right of access. Here is how to use it for the three situations that send most people looking, and where the honest free path fits.

First, the free path

For a single request you have time to handle, you never have to pay anyone.findmy.healthfinds where your records live and writes the HIPAA right-of-access letter for you, free. order.health exists for when you'd rather hand off the delivering and chasing — that, and nothing else, is what the service tiers starting at $50 cover.

The playbook, step by step

  1. Decide what you actually need

    A new doctor usually needs recent history and results; a disability claim needs complete records from every provider over the relevant period; a lawyer needs a specific, complete set tied to your matter. Knowing the scope keeps the request fast and the fee low.

  2. Find each provider's records office

    Recent records usually live in the patient portal (MyChart and similar). Older or complete charts go through the Health Information Management / Release of Information office. findmy.health looks this up for 40 major US systems, free.

  3. Make the request in writing

    Your strongest tool is a HIPAA right-of-access request. Name the patient, the records and date range, the format you want, and where to send them. findmy.health writes this letter for you at no cost, no account.

  4. Choose the format and destination

    If the records are kept electronically you can ask for an electronic copy — often free — and you can direct the provider to send it to a new doctor, your attorney, or yourself.

  5. Track the 30-day clock

    By law the provider must act within 30 days (45 CFR § 164.524), with one 30-day extension allowed on written notice. Follow up if it stalls — or let order.health chase it for you.

  6. Escalate if you're denied or overcharged

    File a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights through its online portal, generally within 180 days of the problem. OCR enforces the right of access and has fined providers.

By situation

For a new doctor

You can direct your old provider to send records straight to your new one. Records sent electronically for continuing care are often free and faster.

See this option →

For a disability claim

Claims usually need complete records from every treating provider over the relevant period. Batching several requests — and organizing what comes back — is where a service earns its keep.

See this option →

For a lawyer or legal case

You can direct a copy of your own records to your attorney — on your authorization only. This is records logistics, not legal advice; your lawyer advises on the case.

See this option →

What you can be charged

A provider may charge only a reasonable, cost-based fee — the labor to copy the records, the media or paper, and postage if mailed. It cannot bill you for searching for or retrieving your records, even where state law seems to allow it, and electronic copies are frequently free. Any provider fee order.health passes along is at cost, pre-approved, and never marked up.

Order your records — from $50Do it myself for free →

Primary source: the HIPAA right of access,45 CFR § 164.524and HHS Office for Civil Rights guidance. Reviewed by the MedicalRecords.com editorial team · Last reviewed July 2026. This is general information about your records rights, not legal advice.