very unhappy in Medicine Hat

Hi all After about 5 years of getting the run around from 2 weightloss programs in alberta I am concidering going out of prov/country. I am at my all time high weight wise and I'm desperate for the surgery. Is there ANY surgeons in Canada that don't have a wait time of over 1 year and does any one have any info an Alberta Halth Care covering the surgery out of prov/country. Thanks

I wish you all the best!! I dont thinkk your going to find a surgeon in Canada that doesnt have a Very long waiting list.. My Ordeal took almost 5 years and Im finally getting my surgery this September..

WOW you sound just like me. Anyhow, I have asked alberta health care about coverage out of province here is a copy of the letter they sent back to me. Hope it helps..... Angie Good Day, My name is Dolores Deren and I work in the Out of Country/Out of Province Unit at the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). Your e-mail inquiry has been forwarded to me for a reply. There are reciprocal agreements between the provincial and territorial health plans. Due to this agreement, insured hospital and physician services received in another province or territory are normally billed directly to the host provinces health plan with no cost to the patient (except for Quebec physicians). The only mandatory requirement is that the providers see a valid Alberta Personal Health Card at the time of service. On this basis, if you can find a physician and hospital that is willing to perform this surgery within Canada and they will accept your Alberta Personal Health number and bill reciprocally, there would be no cost to you for these insured services. Hospitalization coverage is for the ward rate only and does not include private or semi-private rooms. In your situation, however, because the surgeon is Quebec based, he/she has the option of billing you directly for the service or billing the AHCIP directly. As long as the physicians (all of them) submit a completed standard out of province claim form indicating the Regis billing code and their fee, the AHCIP will pay them AT THE QUEBEC RATE. Confirm with the hospital that they will accept your Alberta Personal Health Number and bill under the Hospital Reciprocal Agreement. If not, then I need you to let me know. If this is done is a private clinic, you should be aware that their charges (clinic fees) are not payable under your AHCIP. It is recommended that you confirm with the hospital (if hospital is an option for you) and all of your physicians how to best approach this situation and have it all covered for you. It is ultimately up to your service providers in Quebec to make this determination. I have attached the Out of Province Claims form which can be copied. This form is used Canada wide, so I am certain the PQ physicians are familiar with it. I trust this answers your questions, however, please feel free to contact me directly if you require additional information. On Behalf of Alberta Health and Wellness Dolores Deren Client Services

Thank you so much for the info. Does this include the Lap band surgery as well? How have you proceded with your surgery plans now that you have this info. I don' know where to start. Are you getting the lap band or bypass and how long do you have to wait until the surgery? Thanks again, Kerry

Hi Kerry I'm from Sask. we do not even have anybody here doing any kind of WLS. So I am going to Dr. Kuri in Mexico for Lapband in Aug. He has a website if you just google dr. kuri. I know 2 people who have had the surgery & were very impressed. It is half the cost of what it is in Canada & my understanding is that with all the correct receipts it is tax deductable.. Good Luck with your search! Penny

Kerry Yes, I can not believe the need for these surgeries. What I also cant understand is the wait times. Like do the Dr's do 1 surgery a week or what?? I saw Dr Norh in October of 2004. I was only BMI of 39, he said he didnt want to do it then to come back in 3 months to see what my weight was , and i got pregnant and so had to cancel. Now I am done with having kids and wanted to go back as I am at a BMI of 48. The heaviest I have EVER been. I thought I could just go in and get an appointment since I already had one but they told me no. So I got a referal and my date for consultation is not until November 2009. I was almost dumbfounded by that. But I guess 2 yrs isnt as bad as I have heard 4 years and more for some dr's. I am having the gastric bypass, If he will do it. I cant see why he wouldnt this time. I found this clinic in Quebec if u are interested I do not know all the details or the cost etc. It is a private clinic and Im not sure on the wait times. www.weightlosssurgery.ca I have decided to goto the gym and see what i can do again. This seams to fail me everytime. I know Dr. Nohr is a great surgeon and I will wait to see him. I just think it is so long to wait 2 yrs to see him and then another year or so for the surgery. But I guess this is what will happen. I have put myself on a cancellation list at the office but donot know what to anticipate for that.. take care.Angie

Hi Angie - Today is my two month anniversary of having gastric bypass with Dr. Nohr. Don't get discouraged by your consult date in 2009, that's when mine was originally scheduled also. I put myself on the cancellation list and called every week to see if there was an opening - I got in for my consult after 7 months, instead of over 3 years. I then had a surgery date a year after my consult, once again I put myself on the cancellation list - they told me to call every 6 weeks to see if there were openings, so I called every 3 weeks. So in May I was called on a Monday and asked if I wanted the surgery the following Monday. So I ended up having my surgery 7 months later, instead of one year later, and here I am 2 months post-op!

Hello Kerry, I went to Mexico and had my operation done by Dr. Aceves. Dr. Mitchell in Calgary now does my fills. Have you tried Dr. Mitchell. He may be willing to see you. His phone number is 264-6720 extention #6. All the best. email at [email protected] if you like.

Hi kerry, My name is Lori and I am fairly new to this whole process. I'm not sure if you are still looking or have found somewhere quicker. I have done a ton of research about both RNY and Lap-Band. There is not a non-private clinic in Canada with shorter that 1-2 year wait time. Discusting if you ask me. There are a few private clinics, cost is fairly high and travel would be expensive too. I have heard many great things about DR. Kuri in Mexico, also Dr. Valencia (does surgery in both the US and Mexico) I spoke with a lady from Dr. V's office last week and his fees are $12-13K for Gastric Bypass, travel not included, and $8000 for the Lap Band, again travel extra. I do knwo that many hosptials in Canada will accept Alberta Health as coverage, but wait times still pretty long. My Dr. is sending off a referal to Calgary. Perhaps Medice Hat too. i will let you know what happens. Good luck and hang in there - from what I hear the wait is worth it, albeit frustrating!! Lori