If you are insured with ÖKK, you can get an opinion from our partner Medgate over the phone at any time.
Second opinion via Medgate
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.
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.
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.
