Attention British Columbia, Canada residents

Hi I live in BC Canada and am trying to get information on how (if it's even possible) to get reimbursed from MSP if I have either the Sleeve or the Bypass. If I was to self-pay, is there a chance I can be reimbursed? How did you do it? I don't want to go on the 3-5 year wait list....

Anyone from BC go to Montreal to get your surgery done? I assume you paid.... but did you get money back from MSP? (all, 1/2 or even some of it back?)

I can't find a doctor in BC that does the surgery via the patient pays upfront. I have only found surgeons submit the bill MSP directly and the patient never paid a penny out of pocket ---  but this leads back to having to go on a 3-5 year wait list.

I have tried going to Alberta but my doctor received a letter back from a clinic there stating that they are no longer accepting out-of-province patients. Now granted, this was for being covered. Any BC residents go to Alberta to a private hospital and paid up front (self pay) then submit to MSP and get reimbursed?

I have called MSP myself and they said that they do not cover any bariatric surgeries... ummm I'm confused... then what are all these people of wait lists for then? I have read on so many forums all over the internet that people got theirs covered.

It just seems like all misinformation and I really need to find the exact information I need (whether it is in fact reimbursed or if it is 100% not reimbursed.) I just don't want to miss a crucial step in this process and get the surgery done and then only to find out that I don't get covered because I missed a step (and possibly be because I was misinformed when I contacted MSP)

I am having either the sleeve or bypass regardless but it would be kinda great to get even some of that money back.

any and all tips, information, links, personal experiences, specific forms to submit, lean me in the absolute correct direction... anything would be greatly appreciated!

I have a consult with a doc in Montreal on the 18th, and tentative surgery itself on Sept 21! I am so very pumped that I want to get this done yesterday!!!

again, any tidbit of information that sends my in the right direction to hopefully get this surgery covered and reimbursed would be so appreciated!!!

Thank you in advance and I hope to be "one of you guys" sometime soon (whether I have to pay and get nothing back, you will see me on here again, I can promise you that!)

take care

and I hope all of you are doing fantastic in your weight loss journey!!!!

I do not live in Canada but rather the U.S.  I'm not sure if you realize this but on this site they do have a BC, Canada region group.

Good Luck!

Young repost that on Canadian forum , I think OH may even have BC forum..

You don't get reimbursed from MSP for surgery outside of BC.  You can claim some medical expenses from out-of-province treatments/surgeries on your taxes, though.  On rare occasions, MSP will arrange for you to have out-of-province surgery, but this isn't one of those things they do it for very often. You'd have to be a very extreme case for them to even consider it.

If it helps, I only had to wait 16 months for my surgery through Richmond.  And it was a good thing as I used the time to educate myself about the process and get my head on straight so that when it did finally happen, I was entirely prepared.  And, my surgeon and the entire team is right here and is available to me any time I need them.

Hi Heather, 

You will not be reimbursed by MSP. Like anything with BC medical, if you want it faster, you suck up the cost. However, you can claim it under medical expenses on you income tax along with all associated costs. BTW, if you pay for it yourself in BC, you can see those very same surgeons (but we don't have a two tiered medical system...yeah, right) and have your surgery in BC as fast as you can pay for it. 

CJ 

Hi CJ,

Can you explain this a little differently, please. I don't understand.

" BTW, if you pay for it yourself in BC, you can see those very same surgeons (but we don't have a two tiered medical system...yeah, right) and have your surgery in BC as fast as you can pay for it. "

Thank you :)

You can self pay and get service in BC. The doctors, the hospitals, everything is the same, but you don't wait 3-5 years. Essentially, you are paying your way to the front of the line just as if you opted to go somewhere else. I know several people who did this. There are only so many surgeries done annually in BC that are covered by BC medical. There are more performed, but they are paid for out of the pocket of individuals who can't, or won't, wait five years. 

It happens all the time in other areas of health care. For example, I just had knee surgery for which I waited two years (in agony, I might add).  If I had the money, I could  have seen a surgeon, booked the hospital OR, and paid the knee fee to the hospital and not have waited. 

Hi CJ (again haha)

I know of private surgery centres (here in PG we even have one that patients go there for Sx and pay for it) but I can't find these said weight loss clinics.

I have only found three in all of BC:

Victoria Bariatric Surgery

Richmond Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

and False Creek in Vancouver.

I don't think False Creek does Sleeve or Bypass...

and I contacted Richmond office and she said that no they don't do self-paid just through the waitlist

I didn't actually contact the Victoria clinic but I think they are also a waitlist even for self pay...?

Please, if I am misinformed - correct me! haha

If there is other clinics out there (In BC) that I am not aware of - please let me know because I can't find them.  Also if you could either ask these people that you said paid and jumped the wait list to contact me or PM me with their information so I can contact them; that would be so appreciated. I am willing to pay, but I would rather pay and get it done in BC.

all information and tips are welcome!

Thanks everyone!

I have contacted MSP twice and got two different answers. Although today the guy I talked to sounded very confident in his answer... he said "yes it's covered but only to a small extent. Only the Doctor and Anesthesiologist fees are covered. (and I think the consult) - it's not much but I was willing to pay full out of pocket so anything back is great! And he also mentioned that I can claim on income tax so I'll get a little bit more back. Yay! He told me that he just paid someone out from BC today that went to Montreal.

FYI for anyone else that is struggling on getting a precise answer: His name was Mike D. and he was a claims specialist from the OOC/OOP claims department. That sounds pretty legit. :) haha