If you need a second opinion but cannot travel, the following institutions offer a service you might like to consider:
Dana Farber offers an online second opinion program for a charge of $2000.
The cost of an online second opinion covers all of the services involved in the process:
- Assigning your Grand Rounds care coordinator and staff physician
- Collecting your medical records
- Providing a written second opinion from a Dana-Farber medical oncologist
- Helping you with follow-up and in-person appointment referrals
Partners Online Second Opinions Set up in 1997, this consortium of Massachusetts hospitals and specialists offers expert second opinions online in a wide range of medical conditions.
The base cost for a medical second opinion is $800. You are encouraged to provide specific questions that you would like the reviewing doctor to address in the consultation letter. Doing so is helpful to the reviewing doctor and ensures you and your referring doctor receive useful input and recommendations. Please note: There is an additional fee if you request an imaging and/or biopsy review, include more than four questions for the reviewing physician or use the Health Advocate medical record collection service. See here for details.
Does insurance cover my online second opinion?
Currently, most health insurance plans do not cover online second opinions. However, you can use funds from your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for the service.