Medical Second Opinion
Access to specialists when it matters most
Overview
Receiving a serious or complex medical diagnosis can feel overwhelming and it can be helpful to get another specialist’s perspective on a diagnosis or treatment plan. Medical Second Opinion (MSO), provided by WorldCare Inc., easily connects you with a team of specialists who can evaluate diagnoses and treatment plans confidentially.
Recommendations from specialists when you need it.
Access is easy – if you’re looking for a second opinion, you can connect with a registered nurse case manager by phone. They will guide you through the process, gather the appropriate medical records, and help get answers to any questions along the way. With their help, a multi-disciplinary team of specialists from recognized hospitals and academic institutions, known collectively as The WorldCare Consortium®, will review your case to help ensure you have the correct diagnosis and optimal treatment plan. You and your doctor can use the report to help with next steps.
MSO specialists
WorldCare Consortium® specialists are selected to review cases based on their experience with similar cases and their research knowledge.
The specialists and sub-specialists are based out of 6 recognized institutions, including:
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- Children’s Mercy Kansas City
- Jefferson Health
- Mass General Brigham
- Northwestern Medicine
- UCLA Health
Independent review of diagnosis and treatment recommendations by top-ranked specialists for 100+ serious and complex conditions, including mental health.
Coverage
Eligible conditions include more than 100 serious and complex conditions across 16 categories*:
- Neurological
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Skin/dermatology
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Hematology
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- HIV/AIDS
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Otolaryngology
- Genitourinary tract
- Congenital disabling disorders
- Respiratory tract
- Breast
- Endocrinology
- Mental health
Mental health MSOs are available for diagnoses of bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorders, major depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. This includes advice from a psychiatrist to help you, or your covered family member, and physician with next steps.
Enhanced cancer MSO with mental health provides personalized advice from a team of mental health experts to help navigate the impact of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
A full list of eligible conditions is available on the WorldCare site here.
To get started or check your eligibility
Group Benefits Members: Contact your plan sponsor or call 1-800-875-1264 Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
Individual insurance customers: Contact your financial advisor or call 1-800-875-1264 Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
WorldCare Explainer Video**
WorldCare How To Video**
**The MSO process and how to overview videos are owned by Worldcare. Manulife does not assume any responsibility over the content.
Frequently asked questions
Second opinions are a common practice for various reasons – whether you’d like more information, confirmation of a diagnosis, or exploration of alternative treatment options, it can be valuable to get the perspective of independent specialists.
1 in 4 WorldCare MSOs result in a change in diagnosis, and 3 out of 4 results in a change to the treatment plan2.
MSO is available without a referral. If the MSO benefit is part of your benefits plan or individual insurance coverage, and you, or your covered family member, have received a diagnosis for an eligible condition get started by checking your eligibility.
MSO covers more than 100 serious and complex medical conditions; your condition does not need to be life-threatening to be eligible.
With your consent the nurse case manager, as part of the record collection process, and assigned specialists within the WorldCare Consortium® who will complete the second opinion will have access to your records.
The amount of time it takes to collect all relevant medical records can vary. Once all records have been collected, an MSO report is typically provided within 10 business days.
1 Cumulative historical WorldCare Data 2022 (WorldCare MSO – WorldCare).
*Medical Second Opinion is offered based on plan availability and conditions, limitations, and exclusions as defined below:
- attempted suicide and/or self-inflicted injuries or injuries caused by a third person with the Member’s consent
- radioactive contamination
- war or warlike operations (whether war is declared or not), riot, civil commotion, revolution, insurrections, conspiracy, or any events or causes which determine the proclamation or maintenance of martial law or state of siege
- poisoning or poisonous gas inhalation
- epidemics/pandemics/natural disasters
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife).
Group Benefit products and services are offered by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife)*. Manulife, Manulife & Stylized M Design, and Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license. ©2024 The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Manulife, PO Box 2580, STN B Montreal QC H3B 5C6.