What should I do if I want my child to be seen by an out-of-network doctor at Kaiser?

Published: Feb. 13, 2026Updated: Feb. 23, 2026

You can ask for a second opinion from a doctor within Kaiser, and if you still don’t agree or don’t get answers, then you can request in writing for an out-of-network third opinion. A health plan should refer out when they truly don’t have that expertise within the network, but they are not always willing to acknowledge shortfalls in expertise. If your insurance network doesn’t have a particular specialist, you can get a referral to the department that the specialty would fall under, and see if they’d refer you out of network for care. If they refuse, you can file a grievance. You should be prepared to discuss the medical necessity of getting an opinion from an out-of-network provider.

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