Question 1

How much does a second opinion cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you come to us. If your doctor sends us a referral and you are an Ontario resident with a valid OHIP card, your second opinion is covered by OHIP — there is no charge to you. If you come to us without a doctor's referral (a private second opinion), or you live outside Ontario, the fee is $600, billed privately. Private reviews are an uninsured service and are not covered by OHIP.

Question 2

Do I need a doctor's referral?

Accepted Answer

For an OHIP-covered second opinion, yes — a referral from your family doctor or specialist is required. Simply ask your doctor to send us a referral; our referral form takes them only a few minutes. If you prefer not to involve your doctor, you can choose a private second opinion instead ($600, billed privately, no referral required).

Question 3

How do I get an OHIP-covered referral from my doctor?

Accepted Answer

Ask at your next appointment, or call your doctor's office and say you would like a referral to Radiology Experts for a second opinion on your imaging. Your doctor can complete our online referral form or fax us at (416) 391-6221. Once we receive the referral, we take care of everything else and send the final report back to your doctor.

Question 4

What types of scans can I get a second opinion on?

Accepted Answer

We review X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs. We do not currently review PET scans, nuclear medicine studies, or breast imaging (mammography) cases.

Question 5

How do I get my images to you?

Accepted Answer

After you submit your request, we send you a secure link to upload your images — from your computer, a CD, or PocketHealth. If you have trouble, our team will help you or work with the hospital or clinic to transfer the images. The images are transferred to us so our radiologists can review them; we do not offer a patient portal where you can log in to view images or reports online.

Question 6

How many questions can I ask the radiologist?

Accepted Answer

A private second opinion includes one question for the radiologist — the question that matters most to you about your scan. Our radiologists focus their review on answering it thoroughly. Please note this service answers a radiology question about your imaging; it is not a general medical consultation.

Question 7

Can I choose which radiologist reviews my scan?

Accepted Answer

We match your case to the fellowship-trained subspecialist whose expertise best fits your scan — for example, a neuroradiologist for a brain MRI. Because availability varies, we cannot guarantee requests for a specific radiologist.

Question 8

How long does it take to get my report?

Accepted Answer

Turnaround depends on the complexity of your case and how quickly we receive your complete imaging and any prior studies. We work to return most reports as quickly as possible, and urgent cases can be expedited on request. You will be notified by email as soon as your report is ready.

Question 9

Who receives my second opinion report?

Accepted Answer

If your doctor referred you, the report is sent to your referring doctor so they can go over the results with you and plan next steps. If you chose a private second opinion, the written report is sent directly to you. All communications comply with Canadian privacy laws, including PHIPA and PIPEDA.

Question 10

Can I submit a request for a family member?

Accepted Answer

The request must come from the patient themselves. If you are helping a parent or family member, you are welcome to sit with them while they fill out the form — but submitting on someone else's behalf requires proper legal signing authority (for example, power of attorney for personal care). If that applies to you, contact us first and we will explain what documentation is needed.

Question 11

Is it awkward to ask my doctor for a second opinion?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Second opinions are a normal, encouraged part of healthcare, and most physicians welcome them. Our reports are written to support your doctor's care, not replace it.

Question 12

Does my patient need a referral?

Accepted Answer

Yes — for the review to be OHIP-covered, we require a referral from a physician. Our online referral form takes just a few minutes, and we deliver the final report directly back to you by your preferred method (secure email or fax).

Question 13

Who receives the report?

Accepted Answer

The report is sent directly to the referring physician listed on the referral, by secure email or fax — whichever you choose on the form. All communications comply with PHIPA and PIPEDA.

Question 14

How long does a report take?

Accepted Answer

Turnaround depends on case complexity and how quickly we receive the imaging and relevant priors. Most reports are returned promptly, and urgent cases can be expedited — indicate the priority when submitting your referral.

Question 15

What subspecialties do your radiologists cover?

Accepted Answer

Our radiologists cover six subspecialties: Neuroradiology, Musculoskeletal Radiology, Body Radiology, Cardiothoracic Radiology, Pediatric Radiology, and Interventional Radiology. Every study is read by a fellowship-trained subspecialist. We do not currently accept PET, nuclear medicine, or breast imaging cases.

Question 16

How do I submit a referral?

Accepted Answer

Complete our online referral form — it takes a few minutes and supports attaching relevant reports. We handle image transfer directly with you or the imaging facility, so there is no need to upload prior studies yourself. You can also fax referrals to our office at (416) 391-6221.

Question 17

Do I need to send prior imaging or reports?

Accepted Answer

No. We coordinate image transfer directly with the imaging facility, the patient, or PocketHealth, and we retrieve relevant prior studies ourselves. You are welcome to attach anything you feel is helpful, but nothing is required beyond the referral itself.

Question 18

Is there any cost to my patient or my practice?

Accepted Answer

For Ontario patients with a valid health card, a physician-referred second opinion is covered by OHIP — there is no cost to your patient or your practice. Patients who come to us without a referral are billed privately as an uninsured service.

Question 19

Can I mark a referral as urgent?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The referral form includes a priority field (urgent, semi-urgent, or routine). Urgent cases are flagged for expedited review — please also feel free to call our office for time-sensitive cases.

Question 20

Can I request a specific radiologist?

Accepted Answer

We assign each case to the fellowship-trained subspecialist whose expertise best fits the study. Because availability varies, requests for a specific radiologist cannot be guaranteed.

Question 21

Do you accept referrals from outside Ontario?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Referrals are welcome from family physicians, specialists, and nurse practitioners across Canada. Indicate your preferred report delivery method on the form and we will return the report directly to you.

Question 22

Are your radiologists licensed in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All of our radiologists are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and many hold academic appointments at major Canadian teaching hospitals.

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