Best Doctors
Professional second opinions and treatment options for any condition, illness or disease. This service covers physical as well as mental health and is free of charge if you have Prestige (Gold) Cover.
Who are Best Doctors?
An international network of over 50,000 top medical specialists, all acknowledged as leaders in their fields. Available at no charge if you hold Prestige (Gold) Cover.
The correct diagnosis and the right treatment
Getting the correct diagnosis and the right treatment is vital, especially as some health conditions have several treatment options.
You can ask Best Doctors for a second opinion and recommended treatment options for any injury, medical condition or illness. The service covers physical as well as mental health.
Advocates from Best Doctors liaise with your own doctor to obtain your case notes and medical history. A clinical team examines your records, arranges more tests if necessary and appoints a specialist to review your case. That specialist undertakes a thorough re-examination of your condition.
Two to three weeks later, you receive a detailed report with an accurate diagnosis, suggested treatment plans and any further information the specialist thinks you might find helpful. Your own doctor is kept fully informed and receives a copy of the report, if you wish.
If nothing changes, you have the reassurance of knowing that an independent medical specialist has thoroughly reviewed your case.
With Prestige (Gold) cover this service is free of charge. You can phone Best Doctors and ask them to review any medical condition, as often as you like.
Ask the Expert
If you don’t want or need a complete case review, you can still call Best Doctors with questions about your health.
The advocates at Best Doctors will ask about your medical history and what questions you want answered. They match your questions to the most appropriate expert in their network.
The expert reviews your questions and provides answers, recommendations and treatment options in a comprehensive, personalised report, which you receive within five to seven days.
See someone local
If you prefer to see someone face to face, Best Doctors can put you in touch with two or more top-rated medical specialists in a location that’s convenient for you.
Get help online help
Submit your questions online and Best Doctors will get you a personal answer from an Australian GP within 48 hours.
Access mental health support at home
Best Doctor’s Mental Health Navigator offers fast, confidential support that you can access from the comfort of your own home.
A mental health nurse collects any relevant medical records and refers you to a psychiatrist and/or clinical psychologist. They make a detailed assessment via video link then recommend follow-up treatment. The nurse guides you to treatment and supports you for six months.
Contact Best Doctors
If you are a Prestige (Gold) member you can contact Best Doctors about a wide range of medical conditions (excluding emergency services). They will see that you receive the best possible medical advice, so you can make informed decisions about your health.
Unless required by law, your details are treated with 100% confidentiality. Best Doctors does not share your information with CBHS or with your treating doctor, unless you authorise them to do so. Many doctors find the input from Best Doctors extremely helpful.
The decision of whether to follow the expert’s recommendations is also entirely yours. For an obligation-free chat, give Best Doctors a call on 1800 830 082.
If you don’t hold Prestige (Gold) cover and would like to consider upgrading to gain access to Best Doctors, contact our Member Care team on 1300 654 123. One of our friendly staff members will be happy to help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Doctors provides second opinion services for a wide range of medical conditions. They can include everything from back pain and sports injuries to chronic diseases and life-threatening illnesses. Best Doctors Mental Health Navigator provides assistance with mental health. However, Best Doctors does not provide emergency services.
No, all you have to do is make a confidential call to Best Doctors and they’ll handle everything for you. As all your contact with Best Doctors will be over the phone or the Internet, you do not need to travel, visit doctors’ offices or contact your doctor(s) to obtain records, images or other information related to your medical case.
Unless required by law, Best Doctors will not share information about your case. They will not tell CBHS about your call or its contents without your written consent. However, the Best Doctors expert’s report may be shared with your treating doctor(s) with your consent.
Best Doctors physicians include the world’s top medical specialists. They are selected by other doctors through a comprehensive review process. Best Doctors surveys doctors to find out which doctors they trust most. Every doctor in the survey is asked, “If you or a loved one needed a doctor in a certain specialty, who would you choose?” Doctors cannot pay to be included on the Best Doctors list or nominate themselves for consideration.
No. You remain in full control of your healthcare decision-making. The information you receive from Best Doctors is intended to help you make informed decisions regarding your diagnosis and/or treatment plan, and only you can decide whether you want to share the report with your treating doctor or not. Best Doctors will not share your report with your doctor unless you authorise it.
Best Doctors shares its expert’s findings with you first — and only with you. Then Best Doctors will share the expert’s report with your treating doctor once they have received your authorisation. They will not share the report without your consent. The goal of Best Doctors is to provide useful information so that you and your doctor can make more informed decisions together regarding your treatment.
Most doctors find that collaboration with other experts is very helpful, especially in complex situations. Best Doctors enables doctors to collaborate in a new way.
Best Doctors complies with all relevant state and national laws and regulations related to patient privacy. Unless required by law, your specific name and medical information will NOT be shared with anyone, including CBHS or your treating doctor, without your written consent. On occasion, de-identified information may be used to help improve the Best Doctors program.
You’re eligible for Best Doctors if you are covered by a CBHS Prestige (Gold) policy.