Frequently Asked Questions
What experts are available to provide your second opinion?
Our program consists of over 300 NYP experts from Columbia Doctors and Weill Cornell Medicine for virtually every specialty and subspecialty of medicine and surgery, ranging from neurology, pediatrics, oncology, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, and vascular medicine.
After carefully reviewing your request and your medical records, our team at NYP will determine which physician specialist is most appropriate to handle your second opinion case. You may request a particular physician, and we will try to accommodate that request, but we cannot guarantee that specialist will be assigned to your case.
Should I get an NYP Second Opinion or visit NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for an in-person appointment?
If you do not live within convenient traveling distance of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital or if you would like a remote consultation from the convenience of your home, we recommend NYP Second Opinion.
Is NYP Second Opinion available to anyone?
At this time, we do not offer NYP Second Opinion to patients who live in Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, and Wyoming. If you would like to visit NewYork-Presbyterian for an in-person appointment, you may schedule a visit by calling 1-800-NYP-WELL. An in-person appointment may be covered by your insurance, depending on your insurance coverage.
We do not currently offer NYP Second Opinion to patients who live outside of the United States. We encourage you, however, to contact Global Services.
How much does NYP Second Opinion cost?
NYP Second Opinion costs $800. This fee includes:
- Access to a care coordinator and staff physician from Included Health
- Collection, digitization and distribution of your medical records
- Review and a written opinion by our NYP expert physician
- Follow-up for additional questions and referrals
- General Radiology and Pathology interpretations
Will my insurance cover the cost of NYP Second Opinion?
Most health plans do not cover online second opinions or consultations. You are responsible for the cost of your NYP second opinion. We will not file a claim with your insurance carrier, nor can we provide a procedure (CPT) code for the NYP second opinion service. The cost of a NYP second opinion may be paid through your Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account.
I'd like to get a second opinion from an NYP physician. How do I begin?
To start an online second opinion, you will need to create an account. Then, you will be lead through the process of obtaining a second opinion. You can also call us between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. EST at 1-800-391-6920.
How does the online NYP second opinion process work?
- Step 1. After creating an account, create your case by clicking the green button on the patient dashboard or by calling our partner Included Health between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. EST at 1-800-391-6920. You will be asked to provide an email address, basic patient information, locations of existing medical records, local physician contact information, and the question(s) you have about your condition or the patient’s condition.
- Step 2. Included Health collects all of your medical records and chooses the most appropriate physician from our institution to review your case. Our care team does the legwork for you. All of your information is handled securely to protect your privacy.
- Step 3. An expert physician reviews your case and assembles your second opinion, addressing your specific questions.
- Step 4. A member of the care team will call you to answer any questions you may have about your second opinion.
How long does the NYP Second Opinion process take?
We do our best to deliver your NYP second opinion as quickly as possible. In order to provide you the highest quality service, our process is medically rigorous, personalized, and comprehensive. The timeline depends on how quickly we can collect your medical records from your medical providers. It can take between five and seven business days from the time our physicians receive your medical records to the time your second opinion is delivered to you.
Do I need to send in my medical records?
If all of your care has taken place within the United States, you only need to provide the names and locations of your physicians; our Included Health partner will collect your records. If you live in the United States and already have all of your medical records on hand, you can send them directly to Included Health.
Can I add more records, labs or scans once a case is underway?
Your case cannot be reviewed by an expert until all required records are received. Should additional records, labs or imaging become available once your case is underway, we regret that we cannot add them to your case and the expert will not be able to review them. If new information does become available while your case is underway, you are welcome to open and pay for a new case. We will try to have the same expert review your second case, though that is not guaranteed.
How many questions can I ask the expert?
Patients may ask a maximum of five questions. This is to ensure that the expert has sufficient time to devote to each question. All questions must be finalized before we reach out to the expert to review your case, and additional questions cannot be added once your case is underway. Please note that you will not have direct phone contact with the expert, so it is important that you submit all of your questions at the start of your case.
What should I expect from my completed second opinion?
You will receive a notification when your second opinion has been completed and is ready for your review. The second opinion will be in written form. After you have reviewed the second opinion, a Included Health clinician will follow up with you by phone to address general medical questions about the information provided in the second opinion.
What if I have follow-up questions for the expert after I have reviewed my second opinion?
If you have a clarifying question about an expert’s response to one of the questions in your second opinion, the Included Health clinician will attempt to contact the expert to request additional clarification. Depending upon his or her availability, the expert may or may not be able to respond to follow-up questions, and follow-up questions are not guaranteed. Follow-up questions must be posed to the expert within five business days of when the completed second opinion was made available to you, and you may ask a maximum of three clarifying questions. Please note that you may not introduce any new questions, only clarifying questions.
Need help with online second opinions?
Contact our partner Included Health between 9 am and 9 pm EST at 1-800-391-6920 for help navigating the online second opinion process.