St Boniface won't accept my application

Hi, I'm new here, a male in late 30's. My GP sent St Boniface a letter and they replied that I didn't met the criteria for the Bariatric surgery . They only accept women. Why is that? I've read in this forum that Maples Surgical Centre only accept out of pocket payment, but the post was dated last year, any news if the MB Health already approve payment for private clinics? Many Thanks!

Wow.
I had NOT heard that they only take women!
That would not be fair for SURE!

I do not think that Manitoba has coverage for surgery through a private clinic yet, BUT Dr. Andrews is a surgeon at BOTH clinics.  It does cost $100 for a consult there, but it would be worth it to have a conversation with him so that you could be filled in on the details.

There is an organization in Saskatchewan called Weight Loss Forever that goes to Mexico. Might be something to check into too.

GOOD LUCK!! :)

Both my friend and I are on the waiting list as we both meet the criteria but she was just at her doctor's yesterday and he told her he got a letter last week that they had just opened up the criteria to men as well.  Maybe you should try again.

i have a question or so for you? how long after your doctor reffered you did it take to get you acceptance letter?? do you have any idea on how long it will take before you get a surgery date or do you already have one?

I asked my doctor for a referal in Sept and received my acceptlance letter at the end of Oct. I called Andrea sometime in Novemer and she told me it would be approx. 12-18months from the date my doctor put in the referal.  I still have not received any appts. but I am thinking sometime in April or May maybe for the first intial meeting ( I believe that is the group meeting but could be wrong) I am going to give her a call in a couple more weeks to check, the wait time seems crazy long but I have to admit time is flying by! 

The reason that they were only accepting low-risk women at first was because the surgeons were fresh out of residency. They are required to do about 200 low-risk surgeries before they took more high-risk patients. It is more difficult to do this surgery on men because men tend to carry more weight around the middle. Then plan was to open up the program to men after about two years, which is right about now. So do contact the clinic and see if the criteria have changed yet.

Good Luck!

Tanya

 So now that the program is opened up to men, does anyone know if this will affect the current waiting list?
As in, they had a list of men who applied but were put "on hold" and this will now expand the list?

 All right folks, JUST got off the phone with Andrea and the criteria has NOT been expanded to include men. 
It may in the future but certainly has not at this point. 
And on another note...wait times are looking at about 30 months. Yike!

Thank you very much for the help guys.

I had my surgery done in August in Regina by the Bariatric Surgery Clinic there, last I heard their turnaround is about 2 years, and their program is great. They have 3 surgeons going strong!