How to Get a Second Opinion: Step by Step

The situations and first steps above draw on Geisinger’s second-opinion guidance and Ascension’s guide to second opinions in cancer treatment.

Here is how to get a second opinion: ask your current provider to request one or contact another specialist directly, confirm insurance coverage, and send records ahead. Keep the timing prompt so care is not delayed.

The steps below follow that order. For the wider skills behind them, see how to speak up for yourself at the doctor.

When a second opinion is worth seeking

A second opinion means another specialist reviews your medical records, test results and diagnosis before offering their own recommendations, according to Geisinger. It suits complex decisions better than everyday care, because routine care usually does not need one.

• Major treatment choices. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are the examples Geisinger gives of a significant treatment decision.
• A new or changed diagnosis, or a new treatment plan. New England Cancer Specialists lists these as reasons to seek a telemedicine second opinion.
• Difficult travel. The same practice offers an online route when getting to an office would be hard.

Timing matters as much as the decision itself. Geisinger’s advice is that a second opinion should be timely and should not delay care. If your concern is that symptoms are being brushed aside rather than that a treatment plan needs checking, what to do when your doctor doesn’t listen covers that situation.

Telling your doctor you want one

Start with your current healthcare provider. Geisinger notes that many physicians welcome another colleague’s perspective, and that your provider can request a second opinion on your behalf. You can also contact another provider directly if you would rather arrange it yourself.

Ascension’s cancer guide adds reassurance on the awkward part: do not worry about hurting your doctor’s feelings by asking. A plain, specific request works best. Say which decision you are weighing, say you want another specialist’s view before making it, and ask the office to send your records. If the conversation becomes tense, how to disagree with your doctor offers wording that keeps the relationship intact.

Finding a specialist and checking coverage

Confirm what your plan pays for

Ascension reports that many health insurers will pay for a second opinion. Geisinger adds the condition that matters: many plans cover them, but you may need a referral or prior authorization. Its advice is to confirm coverage before scheduling an appointment.

Call the insurer, or check the plan’s member materials, and ask three things. Is a second opinion covered? Is a referral or prior authorization required? Does the specialist you are considering count as an in-network provider? Ask before booking, because a covered benefit can still be unavailable with the wrong provider.

Locate the right doctor

Ascension points to the American Medical Association’s online Find a Doctor service for locating a specialist, and to the AMA’s directory of medical groups in each state. Choose someone who treats your specific condition, not only someone nearby.

Where the condition is serious, caseload may matter. Geisinger says outcomes may be better when treatment happens somewhere that sees more cases. Treat that as a reason to ask about experience with your condition, not as a guarantee.

Getting your records and images to the new doctor

The new provider can only review what it receives. Geisinger lists the essentials: medical records, pathology reports, test results, imaging scans and a current medication list. Many healthcare systems can transfer records electronically, and your current provider can often help.

Ask the current office to send the material straight to the new one, and request copies of the imaging itself, not only the written reports. Before the appointment, phone the new office and confirm it received everything. A missing scan can turn the visit into a discussion of what is still outstanding.

Some practices handle collection for you. At New England Cancer Specialists, the patient signs an authorization allowing the practice to obtain medical records from other healthcare providers, so there is no need to chase each office yourself.

Getting a second opinion on a cancer diagnosis

For cancer, the paperwork is broader. Ascension lists a medicine list, a summary of treatments so far, and records from hospital stays, plus blood work, imaging, biopsies and pathology reports. The pathology material matters most for a diagnosis, because the reviewing specialist works from those reports.

Ascension gives several reasons to seek a second view. It can confirm the diagnosis, let you see a specialist who treats your kind of cancer, confirm the treatment advice, or offer different choices.

The worry is usually delay. Ascension says a short delay in treatment will not make a difference in many cases, and Geisinger still stresses timeliness. Book promptly, but do not feel forced to decide on the spot.

Where to look for a treatment center

• National Cancer Institute information service. Ascension names the service at 800-422-6237 as a way to find cancer treatment centers near you.
• Commission on Cancer. The American College of Surgeons program approves hospitals and medical centers that provide cancer care, which gives a starting list to check against your insurance network.

When the opinions differ

Geisinger’s advice is to have your doctors connect directly if their opinions differ. Ask the second provider to share their recommendations with your original doctor, so both work from the same information instead of relaying conclusions through you.

A second opinion may confirm your current plan or offer new options. If it does the latter, ask each doctor to explain the reasoning behind their approach and what it would mean for your situation. Once the doctors have spoken, you are better placed to choose, and you can still ask either one further questions.

Frequently asked questions