How it Works
Step 1: You start the process and are assigned your Included Health Clinician-Led Care Team
- You start by creating your online account.
- You are assigned a personal care coordinator.
- Your care coordinator asks you where to find your medical records.
Step 2: Your Included Health care coordinator handles the details
- Your care coordinator collects your medical records from your local provider.
- Your care coordinator delivers your records to one of Dana-Farber's medical oncology specialists.
Step 3: One of our medical oncologists provides your second opinion
- One of our expert oncologists reviews your medical records and reports from existing tests.
- One of our expert oncologists then provides a written second opinion on your diagnosis and treatment plan
Step 4: Your Included Health care coordinator follows up with you
- Your care coordinator answers questions you might have about your second opinion.
- Your care coordinator can help you set up an in-person appointment at Dana-Farber.
What to Expect
After you create your account, click the green button on the patient dashboard, or call 800-941-9309 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST. If you are outside the United States, call +1-775-440-2559.
You will be prompted to provide your email address, basic patient information, locations of existing medical records, and questions about your diagnosis and/or treatment plan.
Your Included Health care coordinator collects all your medical records and matches the most appropriate Dana-Farber medical oncologist to review your case. Your care coordinator does all the research and legwork for you, using a secure system that protects your privacy.
Your Dana-Farber medical oncologist thoroughly reviews your medical records, diagnosis, and treatment plan and provides clear medical guidance in a written second opinion that will be provided to you and your local provider.
A member of your Included Health care team will call you within 24 hours after you receive your second opinion to answer any questions you may have.
Your care coordinator will stay in touch with you to help you understand your options so you can chart your path forward with ease and confidence. They can also assist you with scheduling an in-person appointment at Dana-Farber.
Cost, Fees, and Coverage
The cost of an online second opinion from Dana-Farber's program is $2,400. This covers all of the services involved in the process:
- Assigning your Included Health Clinician-Led Care Team
- 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
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. Payment is due when you request your online second opinion, usually by credit card.
After Your Online Second Opinion
The Dana-Farber medical oncologist who reviews your case will provide a thorough written second opinion, including addressing any particular questions you may have. Our oncologist's second opinion may:
- Agree with the diagnosis and treatment plan of your first opinion, confirming that you are going in the right direction.
- Agree with the diagnosis in your first opinion, but may offer a different treatment plan, or additional treatment options.
- Suggest a different diagnosis, and may recommend a different treatment plan.
You should go over your Dana-Farber online second opinion with your first opinion physician – and decide if/how to refine your diagnosis, treatment plan, or care plan. You will also have the opportunity to request an in-person appointment at Dana-Farber.
For Treatment at Dana-Farber
If you decide to seek treatment at Dana-Farber, call us at 877-442-3324 to begin the new-patient consult process. It may be possible to schedule an appointment with the specialist who provided your online second opinion, and may require additional appointments with other Dana-Farber specialty providers.
Please note: The cost of your online second opinion cannot be applied to the bill for an in-person visit. Depending on your insurance plan, an in-person appointment may be covered by your health care coverage. Additional materials, including pathology slides, medical records, and imaging may need to be collected. The scheduling Dana-Farber staff will help you with this process.
