"Before I spend thousands, I want to talk to the doctor." It is the most sensible sentence a patient can say, and it is why every BookMedTrip journey starts the same way: with a specialist, your reports, and a real conversation. Here is exactly what the US$99 consultation includes, what to send, and what you get at the end.
What the US$99 includes
One fee, two calls with registered specialists. The first call is with a specialist matched to your condition, who has read your reports beforehand. The second call is yours to use in one of two ways:
- A follow-up with the same doctor — useful when you have new test results, or your family has questions after thinking it over.
- A second opinion from a different doctor — useful when the first doctor suggests surgery, or when you simply want another expert's view before deciding.
There is no obligation to travel, and no doctor is paid more if you choose surgery. If we cannot find a suitable doctor for your case within three days, we refund the fee in full.
- Book and payChoose your specialty on the form; pay securely online.
- Send your reportsScans, test results, letters and your medicine list.
- We match a specialistBy condition and experience, within three days.
- Call 1A 20–30 minute video call with the specialist.
- Call 2A follow-up with the same doctor, or a second opinion from another.
- Your decisionTreatment at home, treatment in India, or watchful waiting — all are good outcomes.
Why two calls, and why a second opinion matters
Big decisions rarely settle in one conversation. A good first call often ends with homework: a scan to repeat, a blood test to add, or a question the doctor wants your cardiologist at home to answer. Families think of questions on the drive home. New results arrive. And sometimes the honest answer is "let's ask another expert".
That instinct is backed by evidence. In a study published in 2017 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed 286 patients referred for a second opinion. The diagnosis was confirmed in only 12% of cases; it was refined or redefined in 66%, and completely changed in 21%. A different diagnosis can mean a different treatment — or no operation at all.
| Confirmed | 12% |
|---|---|
| Refined | 66% |
| Changed | 21% |
Mayo Clinic, Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 2017. Figures as published; rounding means they do not total 100.
Our longer piece on why a second opinion matters goes deeper, and why we don't push surgery explains our approach.
What to send before your call
The more the doctor sees beforehand, the more useful your call. Please send what you have — we will tell you if anything important is missing.
- Scans: the radiologist's report, and the images themselves if you can (a download link or disc file is best).
- Test results: recent blood tests, ECG, biopsy or pathology reports.
- Letters: from your doctors at home, including any treatment already suggested.
- Medicines: names and doses, including supplements.
- Your questions: written down, with the most important first.
If your reports are in French, Arabic, Russian or another language, send them anyway. Tell us the language when you book and we will arrange translation of the key parts, or a doctor or interpreter who can read them. Photos of paper reports taken flat, in good light, are usually readable; scans of the images themselves are better than photos of a screen.
Your documents are used only for your consultation. Read how we look after them in our guide to medical records and privacy in India.
What you have at the end
By the end of your two calls you should know four things: what the specialist thinks is going on, what the options are (including not treating), what the doctor would recommend for you and why, and — if treatment in India makes sense — what the plan, stay and written estimate would look like.
We also ask the specialist to be specific about uncertainty. If the answer depends on a test you have not had, you will know which test, and whether it can be done near home. If two reasonable treatments exist, you will hear the trade-offs between them, in plain words, rather than a single "best" option.
Many families stop there, reassured. Some choose treatment at home. Some travel. All three are good outcomes, because each is an informed decision.
What the consultation is not
A video call is not an emergency service and cannot replace an examination. If you have severe or sudden symptoms, please go to your local emergency department. The consultation is also not a sales call: we never pay or receive more because someone chooses surgery.
It is also not a promise of any result. Doctors can explain likely outcomes and risks for someone like you; no honest doctor can guarantee one.
Ready? Book your consultation. If you are coming from Africa, our Africa desk can help in English, French, Arabic or Swahili.
Independent research. Figures are quoted from the official and published sources listed below, as they stood when we checked them (October 2026). BookMedTrip is an independent facilitator and is not affiliated with any government body, hospital, charity or organisation named here, and receives no commission from them. If anything here is out of date or inaccurate, please write to care@bookmedtrip.com and we will correct it.
常见问题
What does the BookMedTrip US$99 consultation include?
Two calls with registered specialists: a first video consultation with a matched specialist, then either a follow-up with the same doctor or a second opinion from a different doctor.
Do I have to travel to India after the consultation?
No. Many families decide to treat at home or to wait. The consultation is for an informed decision, not a sale.
What if no suitable doctor is found?
If we cannot match a suitable doctor to your case within three days, the fee is refunded in full.
