From Ontario, CANADA......anyone else?

[silver]

Hi
I'm a self pay...anyone from Canada get insurance coverage?
please share
thinking of going down to Mexico in the new year
I gave myself 6 months to research this and think it through
its a big yes...
It's amazing how honest and forthcoming you all are about your surgerys
anyone considering this procedure releys so much on all your input
Love you all!

[LeisaMcD]

Hi there,
You can get insurance coverage through OHIP if you are over 100 lbs overweight and have other issues like Diabetes or high blood pressure or sleep apnea. You have to go through the Bariatric Registry. Your doctor has to go to the website and fill out the referral, they will contact you in 6-8 months and invite you to a group information session and assign you to a hospital in Southern Ontario based on your postal code. Then you have to go on to a doctor supervised diet, see a nutritionist and a psychologist and they will determine if you are a suitable candidate for the surgery. You will then have a bunch of tests performed and if all goes well they book your surgery. The only surgery OHIP will cover is the Rou En Y procedure. They will not cover a sleeve or a lapband. Lapband has gotten some bad press lately and many sleevers started off as banders and had the devise removed. The Rou En Y procedure has nasty side effects like malabsorption and dumping and completely disconnects your stomach from your digestive track. Private insurance in Ontario does not cover any WLS (at least not any that I was able to find).

I paid the $4500 and went to Mexico and got the sleeve a month ago and I am very happy that I went this route. I hope you find the information useful. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions.

Good luck!
Leisa

[Truffles]

Hi from Edmonton. I went down to Mexico.

[Big_SlaveLaker]

Don't rely on your gov't doctors.
Get it done yourself.
The only issue I had is the wrong portrayal of what the hospital would look like....
Was not what I had envisioned.
Surgery went well though.

[Future Mrs. Finnimore]

From Alberta, qualified for alberta health care referral......then was told it was a 2-4 year waiting period for a consult.........Needless to say I fly to Mexico on Sunday. I went with a higher priced surgeon surgery in total in $8000. Did not want to be in a clinic that has 10-12 surgeries go through a day. My surgeon does 6 per week. Also comes to the hotel and rounds on you for four days. Like I said I paid a littel extra for the one on one factor. The city of Tijuana chamber of commerce is paying for my hotels and transportation while down there. The doctor I am seeing won an award for his practice and as part of that the chamber is paying for the accomadations of everyone who comes down while the promotion is on!! If you want more info I am more then happy to share

[binks240]

Hi, I am from Ontario as well. I had the sleeve done 4 weeks ago today and I can say I am very happy to have done it. I am down 26 lbs to date and feel good. I live in Thunder Bay...u?

[silver]

I'm north of Toronto......everyone is so wonderful for sharing. It looks like I'm on my own in terms of insurance cover for this procedure---that's OK
I prefer this less evasive technique ( which isn't covered)
Good luck and best wishes to everyone

[ToDream]

I was in Edmonton when I had my surgery and was part of WeightWise... when I found out the wait list for surgery (which may not be sleeve) was over 2 years out, I chose self pay. I went to Dr Almanza and I am really happy with my results. I would change a few things (no hotel, recovery house instead) but otherwise, I'm pretty happy with what I got. I don't have any affiliation with that surgeon right now but I do have a blog about all of my experiences.... feel free to read and to contact me if self pay is the way you want to go.

From Alberta, I was able to claim a portion of out of country medical here and then federal taxes as well. Nearly 1/2 of what I paid (less travel) was reimbursed! Perhaps your province can also help? Do some googling!

[Oakleygirl]

Future Mrs. Finnimore, I am also from Ontario and was wondering if you would share more about your dr., the clinic, costs, exactly how you got it all organized... etc... It sounds as if you were very well cared for.