Cancer second opinion cost: what major centers charge

Cancer second opinions at major U.S. centers range from a few hundred dollars for pathology-only review to a few thousand dollars for a comprehensive virtual consultation. In-person second opinions covered by insurance often result in little or no out-of-pocket cost, while self-pay virtual programs have published or quotable fees.

The specific fees and scope change over time; every figure below is representative, not a current quote. Contact the program directly for a current estimate.

In-person second opinion cost

For patients who can travel to the center, in-person second opinions are usually covered by insurance as specialist consultations, subject to standard cost-sharing. Medicare covers them under Part B with 20 percent coinsurance. Commercial plans typically cover them, though PPO plans apply out-of-network cost-sharing if the center is not in-network, and HMO plans may require a referral or out-of-network exception.

The main cost drivers for in-person second opinions are:

1. Travel and lodging, which can exceed the medical bill for out-of-state patients
2. Out-of-network deductible and coinsurance if the center is not contracted with your plan
3. Consultation fees, which for cancer subspecialists typically range several hundred to over one thousand dollars billed to insurance

For patients with commercial PPO coverage or Medicare plus a Medigap supplement, in-network cancer centers often cost essentially nothing out-of-pocket above the deductible.

Virtual second opinion cost

Virtual programs typically publish self-pay fees or provide them on request.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Remote Second Opinions

Scope: Full oncology consultation with written report. Records reviewed by MSK specialist in your cancer type.

Fee range: Published as a fixed program fee for international patients; U.S. patients may qualify if they cannot travel to MSK.

Turnaround: Typically two to four weeks.

Dana-Farber Online Second Opinion Service

Scope: Full oncology second opinion, available to patients outside New England.

Fee: Self-pay fee published on the program page.

Turnaround: Typically two to four weeks.

Cleveland Clinic Physician Second Opinion Program

Scope: Board-certified physician review with written recommendation.

Fee: Published self-pay rate.

Turnaround: Typically one to three weeks.

Johns Hopkins International Pathology Consultation

Scope: Pathology-only re-read by a Johns Hopkins pathologist.

Fee: Significantly lower than full oncology consultation (typically a few hundred dollars).

Turnaround: Often three to seven business days.

Other major centers offering virtual second opinions include Mayo Clinic, UCSF, Stanford, City of Hope, and MD Anderson. Programs and fees vary; contact each program directly.

Pathology-only vs comprehensive

A pathology-only second opinion is the lowest-cost option and often the highest-value first step. Rare cancers and ambiguous pathology readings are significant sources of misdiagnosis. A pathology re-read from a major academic center can:

• Confirm or correct the diagnosis
• Refine the subtype or grade
• Identify additional molecular testing that would be useful
• Provide a foundation for a subsequent comprehensive consultation

Pathology-only reviews are also reimbursed by Medicare as a pathology service and by most commercial plans with prior authorization.

Insurance and virtual second opinions

• Medicare covers telehealth oncology consultations under Part B at standard cost-sharing.
• Medicare Advantage plans cover telehealth consultations within their network.
• Commercial plans increasingly cover virtual second opinions as telehealth consultations. Verify before scheduling.
• Self-insured employer plans sometimes include a dedicated virtual-second-opinion benefit, such as Cleveland Clinic’s MyConsult, MSK Direct, or Mayo Clinic Second Opinion, at no cost to the employee.

How to get a concrete price

1. Go to the center’s second-opinion page and review the published scope and fees.
2. Call the program’s intake line. Ask for a written estimate specific to your diagnosis and the records you will submit.
3. Ask your insurance whether the program is covered and at what cost-sharing.
4. If you have a self-insured employer plan, ask HR whether a virtual second-opinion benefit is available before proceeding through insurance.

Next

• How to get a second opinion without a referral
• Virtual oncology second opinion: what to expect
• Does insurance cover cancer second opinions?
• Second opinion hub: per-cancer programs at top U.S. cancer centers