Braid Health launches $199 online radiology second opinions

By AI, Created 5:07 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Braid Health says patients can now get board-certified U.S. radiologist second opinions for MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound scans online for a flat $199 fee, with no referral required. The service is aimed at speeding up access to expert review and lowering the cost of a step that can otherwise take weeks and cost far more.

Why it matters: - Patients who want a second look at imaging often face referral requirements, long waits and bills that can top $1,000. - Braid Health is positioning a lower-cost, faster online option for people deciding on surgery, treatment or follow-up care. - The service may reduce friction for patients who want clarity before making a medical decision.

What happened: - Braid Health launched an online radiology second-opinion service for MRI, CT scan, X-ray and ultrasound imaging. - Patients can upload imaging through the platform, get matched with a board-certified U.S. radiologist and receive a written second opinion with annotated findings. - The company says the turnaround is within days and no referral is required. - The service costs a flat $199. - The company says the platform is available at braid.health.

The details: - Patients can upload DICOM files, including full MRI sequences, CT scan slices and X-ray images, directly through the platform. - The radiologist review includes a sequence-by-sequence re-read. - The written report can include comparison to prior imaging when available. - The service is designed for people confirming an initial diagnosis, reviewing unexpected findings, preparing for a specialist visit or seeking more confidence before a major care decision. - Braid Health says the price includes a full expert re-read with no hidden fees, no facility charges and no insurance requirement. - The company says traditional in-person radiology second opinions can cost $500 to more than $1,500 and may require a new referral. - Braid Health says its network of U.S. board-certified radiologists covers a broad range of imaging types and clinical areas. - Braid Health says the service is FDA-cleared. - The company says the service is available across MRI, CT scan, X-ray and ultrasound second-opinion use cases. - Braid Health chief executive and cofounder Kevin Quennesson said most patients do not know they have the right to a second opinion on their imaging and that getting one online should be as easy as uploading a file.

Between the lines: - Braid Health is targeting a common pain point in radiology: patients often lack price transparency and have to move through hospital systems to get another read. - The $199 flat fee is meant to stand out against both high out-of-pocket imaging review costs and the uncertainty of hospital billing. - The pitch is less about replacing care and more about giving patients a faster checkpoint before they commit to a treatment path.

What’s next: - Braid Health is likely to lean on speed, price and no-referral access to attract patients searching online for imaging second opinions. - The company is also signaling broader use across multiple imaging types, which could make the platform useful beyond MRI-only cases. - Patients seeking confirmation before procedures or follow-up care may be the clearest early audience for the service.

The bottom line: - Braid Health is betting that transparent pricing and faster access can make online radiology second opinions a mainstream patient option.