You often simply need to hear a second opinion. Especially when it comes to making decisions about your health.
If you are insured with ÖKK, you can get an opinion from our partner Medgate over the phone at any time. We also cover the costs for a written second medical opinion via meinezweitmeinung.ch if you have supplementary hospital insurance or private accident insurance with us.
We have all seen at some point how opinions often differ when it comes to health-related matters. For minor complaints, this is not so important. But when it comes to making important decisions, such as in the case of transplants or back surgery, a second opinion can provide peace of mind or important evidence. If patients feel unsure or overwhelmed with an initial opinion from one medical specialist, they may have to undertake an odyssey from one specialist to another – often entailing very long waiting times and high costs for both themselves and the healthcare system. But this does not have to be the case: if you are insured with ÖKK, you can quickly and easily obtain a second opinion free-of-charge.
Second opinion via Medgate or meinezweitmeinung.ch
If you are insured with ÖKK, you can contact the Medgate telemedical consultation service free-of-charge at any time to clarify your medical questions on 0844 655 655.
If you are insured at ÖKK with one of the following products, you can obtain a second medical opinion before a planned procedure free-of-charge via the independent platform meinezweitmeinung.ch at any time. You will receive a written second opinion together with answers to your questions within ten days in writing.
Advantages of a second opinion via meinezweitmeinung.ch
Independent platform with a large network of renowned Swiss specialists
Processing of your case within ten days, no long waiting times for an appointment
You save money as there is no deductible or excess as a supplementary insurance policyholder
Your data is protected: ÖKK may not look at your medical records without your express consent
Important questions and answers
In the case of serious and extensive medical procedures
A second medical opinion makes sense if you are faced with a serious or extensive medical procedure. For example, this may be the case if...
... you have a herniated disc and your doctor suggests an operation.
... you have been recommended an artificial joint for joint arthrosis.
... you suffer from cardiac arrhythmia and are considering an operation to install a pacemaker.
If you have doubts about the initial medical opinion
A second medical opinion can give you peace of mind and help you make a decision if you are not sure whether the operation is at all necessary This is a case of providing you, as a patient, with transparent and comprehensive information in the case of planned (non-emergency) medical procedures.
For you to be able to obtain a second medical opinion, you must have already received an initial opinion from a specialist and a specific proposal for treatment. Your outpatient or inpatient treatment must also be a mandatory benefit under the Swiss Health Insurance Act (KVG). If you are unsure, we request that you contact us. We are here to help.
It is not possible to obtain a second opinion with regard to cosmetic or emergency procedures.
The specialists from renowned Swiss clinics cover the following specialist areas:
- Orthopaedics: e.g. shoulder, elbow, hand, pelvis, hip, knee, ankle, foot, spine
- Vascular surgery: e.g. circulatory problems with arms, legs or abdominal organs, vein problems, enlarged arteries in legs, peripheral artery disease, carotid stenosis, complaints requiring dialysis
- Neurosurgery: e.g. aneurysm, benign and malignant brain tumour
- Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery: e.g. aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection
- Abdominal surgery: oesophagus, stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, kidney, adrenal glands, liver or kidney transplant, benign and malignant abdominal tumours, thyroid, obesity
No. Every doctor is required to let their patients inspect their own personal medical records. They are allowed to request copies of their files at any time – and with a good conscience: getting a second opinion is not a vote of no confidence for the specialist providing treatment. It is much more a sign that a patient wants to know as much about their case as possible.
A second opinion may, for example, resolve the following questions:
- Do I really need this operation?
- How will the proposed operation impact my health and quality of life?
- What are the risks and disadvantages?
- Are there alternative forms of treatment?
- What happens if I do not have this operation or only have it later?
A second opinion can confirm the proposed procedure, but can also open up other treatment options. However, you are always free to decide how to proceed. As a rule, any further treatment is not carried out by the doctor issuing the second opinion.
If you are insured with ÖKK, you can get an independent second opinion free-of-charge over the phone from Medgate at any time on 0844 655 655. Information is only provided verbally; the person providing the advice will not have looked at your medical files in advance and no physical examinations are carried out.
If you are insured at ÖKK with one of the following products, we cover the costs of a second medical opinion via the platform meinezweitmeinung.ch.
- ÖKK HOSPITAL FLEX MINI, FLEX, SEMI-PRIVATE, PRIVATE or GLOBAL
- ÖKK HOSPITAL PRIVATE ACCIDENT
- ÖKK FAMILY FLEX
- ÖKK COMBI FLEX, SEMI-PRIVATE, PRIVATE or GLOBAL
- ÖKK PRIVATE ACCIDENT
In issuing a second opinion, the doctor will study your medical records and, if necessary, hold a consultation in person. If the second opinion consultation requires repeated or additional examinations in the form of x-rays, CT scans, MRIs scans or lab tests, for example, these are invoiced by the doctor issuing the second opinion and you must contribute towards these via your deductible and excess.
Obtain information from the doctor treating you
Request your medical files from the doctor treating you before obtaining a second medical opinion. You have the right to your medical files. Every doctor is required to let their patients inspect their own medical records. You can request copies at any time. Important documents include the findings of the doctor treating you, current MRI scans or x-rays with the findings of the radiologist, lab results as well as other images. The files should be no more than six months old.
Request a second opinion via meinezweitmeinung.ch
On the meinezweitmeinung.ch platform you select the doctor from whom you would like to receive a second opinion in the relevant specialist area. Then you upload your files to the platform. The chosen doctor then studies your records and reports, and then issues a second opinion in writing within ten days. If necessary, the doctor will offer a consultation in person. Experience shows that this is rarely necessary.
Swiss data protection regulations are taken into account at all times. Communication with the meinezweitmeinung.ch platform is encrypted. Data is processed strictly on a need-to-know basis. This means that your information can only be accessed by people if they absolutely require it to perform a specific task. This means the platform only gives the chosen doctor access to your data. The second opinion can only be accessed by you in a secure area. ÖKK will not see any of your data without your express consent. The data protection statements on meinezweitmeinung.ch, (www.meinezweitmeinung.ch/en/privacy.html) apply.