Provincial coverage?

I'm from Ontario, and OHIP will pay for RNY and VSG, but the sleeve has requirements to be covered. It isn't our choice.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me or point me towards the information in Albera. I'm trying to fight OHIP to get the VSG because I believe it's the best choice for me. I'd like to compare provincial coverage and requirements.

Thanks in advance!!

I am probably not the best person to answer your question because I paid for my own surgery in Mexico.  However, I understand that the various provincial programs offer RNY, VSG and some type of band.  I think all three are patients' choice unless there is a medical reason to rule one or more out.  Looking forward to reading others' responses.

Unless I'm reading it wrong you are saying that OHIP will cover VSG, well VSG is vertical gastric sleeve, therefore the sleeve surgery is covered.

Here in Alberta you have to meet certain requirement to be considered for surgery and not everyone who participates in the Weight Wise Edmonton program is successful when it comes to surgery, many are denied for specific reasons. Many have to wait a waiting period and reenter the program in hopes of getting approved the second time or they go out of country and self pay.

With Weight Wise you have the 3 options of lap-band, RNY and VSG but the choice is affected by your surgeon and his thoughts. I was told when I met the surgeon that I only had 2 choices and that was lap-band and the sleeve, havig by-pass wasn't an option for me in his opinion.

Good Luck and I hope things work out for you.

Kee.

Yes the sleeve, RNY and in some instances the DS are covered in Ontario. Although the RNY is considered the "gold standard" and is therefore the most often performed. The VSG is only approved if you've had previous abdominal surgeries or your bmi is over 60. Neither of which apply to me.
So I'm trying to find out what the qualifications are in other provinces so that I can hopefully use that to convince OHIP to do the VSG on me.

I had the RNY.  I picked the RNY because of the amount of weight that I needed to lose.  I started the program at a BMI of 76... The BMI chart doesn't work for me because I am so short so my "ideal" weight is 125lbs at the max.  Well that is NEVER going to happen.  I knew the RNY was right for me and I haven't regretted it.  I did talk to my surgeon and the lap-band was never an option for me.  One because I am so short and two because of how much weight that I wanted/needed to lose.

Like Kee said, in Edmonton you have three options and it is up to you to pick.  Alberta Health will cover all of them.  Your surgeon can recommend what he thinks is best but it is ultimately up to you to decide.

Does Alberta health care have a website that lists the qualifications for each surgery??  Ie bmi, previous surgeries etc.  

i apologize for the spelling, my iPhone hates this website.  

There arent really a set standard of qualifications for surgery here.  We have to go through a program called "weight wise".  This consists of about 10 classes we have to take , then you have a team which consists of a nurse, diatitian, physcology, and a dr. that you see aprox 1 every 6 weeks.  After you have shown them you can make lifestyle changes and loose some weight and keep it off they will approve you for surgery.  It is them up to you what surgery you want.  They give us the option of RNY, VSG and the band.  My surgeon explained the RNY is the "gold standard" but it is still our choice on the surgery thats right for us.  The only real requirement to get into the program is to have a BMI of over 30 ...possible 35. 

I am not aware of any website or really even any paperwork that would have specific qualifications.  Many people opt for the VSG, including myself.   Here it is totally a personal choice which surgery you have.  

Thank you!!! That was basically what I was hoping to hear. That the type of surgery is your choice!! Here it isn't, we have to have what they choose for us and that's why I have a problem with it!
Thank you all for posting a reply!!

No problem,  you might look into trying to get a out of province referall.  I know a man I met in on of my groups comes from Manitoba because they didnt offer the type of surgery he was wanting.  It just might be kind of a pain having to fly back and forth every couple months for appointments and so on.  It wouldnt hurt to try though.