Online Second Opinions

Question 1

Adults

Question 2

Pediatrics

Question 3

When should I get a second opinion?

Answer

Second opinions are an important aspect of your medical care. Receiving a second opinion can help you secure the right diagnosis before pursuing a treatment plan, avoid unnecessary procedures or surgeries and give you confidence that you are making fully-informed decisions about your health.

Question 4

What should I expect when I contact PinnacleCare?

Answer

A PinnacleCare Advisor will contact you within one business day of your virtual consultation request. Your PinnacleCare Advisor will speak with you to gather your medical history and the details of your current diagnosis. Your advisor will then gather and organize all pertinent medical records on your behalf and coordinate a virtual consultation with the appropriate specialist. PinnacleCare manages the transfer of your medical records and coordinates all the details of your virtual consultation. Your PinnacleCare Advisor remains in regular contact with you throughout the remote second opinion process. After your remote second opinion, your PinnacleCare Advisor will reach out to discuss any additional questions you may have and to set up a call with a PinnacleCare Medical Director to review the remote second opinion report.

Question 5

How will I receive my remote second opinion?

Answer

Once all background information and medical records are received, the specialist will write a remote opinion report, which will be delivered to you by your PinnacleCare Advisor. Due to licensing and liability regulations, you will not speak with the specialist directly as a part of the remote second opinion process.

Question 6

What is the cost of a remote second opinion?

Answer

Online medical second opinions start at $750. Included in this fee are:

A dedicated care coordinator
Collection of medical records
Medical review by an expert UChicago Medicine physician
Written opinion from a physician with answers to your top questions
Personalized debrief telephone call with a physician
Access to the UChicago Medicine referral network

*Please note that depending on the complexity of your case, there may be additional fees for Radiology and Pathology interpretations.

Question 7

Is this covered by insurance?

Answer

Insurance carriers typically do not reimburse for second opinions, but in certain cases some costs may be covered. We recommend that you contact your insurance company to confirm the details of your coverage.

Question 8

Are our conversations kept confidential?

Answer

Yes, all of your activity with PinnacleCare is strictly confidential. PinnacleCare is a HIPAA-compliant company and no personal information is shared without your consent.

Question 9

Is a remote second opinion available anywhere in the country? What if I live outside of the U.S.?

Answer

Yes, remote second opinions can be coordinated for anyone, across the globe. Translation services for non-English medical records are also available for an additional fee.

Question 10

How long will it take to receive the remote second opinion report?

Answer

Generally, the process takes 7-10 business days. In some cases, record collection or translation can delay the submission of information to the specialist. Additionally, if pathology slides need to be reviewed, the process may be lengthened.