1. A health services corporation shall allow enrollees to seek a second medical opinion or consultation from a willing second physician at no additional cost to the enrollee beyond what the enrollee would otherwise pay for an initial medical opinion or consultation from that second physician.

2. If an enrollee chooses to seek a second medical opinion, and if the health services corporation does not employ or contract with another physician with the expertise necessary to provide a second medical opinion, then the health services corporation shall arrange for a referral to another physician with the necessary expertise to provide a second opinion or consultation and ensure that the enrollee obtains the covered benefit at no greater cost to the enrollee than if the benefit were obtained from participating physicians.

3. The second opinions required in this section and section 354.546 shall be covered only in the event that the original diagnosis requires major surgery or other treatment necessitating general anesthesia or other serious illness involving loss of bodily part or function or other debilitating disease.