Hello everyone!

I'm just looking for some info about the lap band here in Windsor, Ontario.

I really just want to know if there is anyway that it would be covered like gastric is????

If anyone knows the process of trying to actually get the surgery covered I would love to know how..

Any kind of input would be great, thank you very much!

Sorry to tell you that it isn't covered, yet, in Ontario.

There are two very good clinics in Toronto, TLBC and SWLC in Mississauga that you can consider.

I paid $16,000 for my surgery last year (I believe its gone up to $18,000) but I would do it again in a heartbeat and would pay double or triple that. It was sooo worth it. Best thing I've ever done for myself.

Yup, not covered in Ontario..I was a self-pay at TLBC on April 25th (this year). $16,000.

Hello everyone!

I'm just looking for some info about the lap band here in Windsor, Ontario.

I really just want to know if there is anyway that it would be covered like gastric is????

If anyone knows the process of trying to actually get the surgery covered I would love to know how..

Any kind of input would be great, thank you very much!

If you have US health coverage it may be covered but not in Canada... and based on a bill passed in the ON legislature last Dec it doesn't look like it will ever be covered or covered any time soon unless they change the law they passed

Heather

Heather do you know the name of the bill passed in December? I'd be interested in reviewing it. I have mixed feelings about potential coverage for the band - very few of us who are self-pay are wealthy and it has been a stretch for most. For the gov't to cover it would require an adjustment of available OR times that are currently used for Cancer surgeries and other more imminent life threatening procedures. While obesity will result in decreased longevity, death for most will be a result of illnesses as a result of obesity. I found a way to finance the band surgery and have a resolved committment to ensure this works. Would it be the same if I could have simply had the procedure covered? Not sure - but I would not have wanted to join a two to three year waiting list if that had been an option. Thank God I didn't have to make that decision - the only choice I had was to do it or not - no complications with trying to decide if I could afford it - I could not afford to not have the surgery. Just my thoughts.

Cindy

Heather do you know the name of the bill passed in December? I'd be interested in reviewing it. I have mixed feelings about potential coverage for the band - very few of us who are self-pay are wealthy and it has been a stretch for most. For the gov't to cover it would require an adjustment of available OR times that are currently used for Cancer surgeries and other more imminent life threatening procedures. While obesity will result in decreased longevity, death for most will be a result of illnesses as a result of obesity. I found a way to finance the band surgery and have a resolved committment to ensure this works. Would it be the same if I could have simply had the procedure covered? Not sure - but I would not have wanted to join a two to three year waiting list if that had been an option. Thank God I didn't have to make that decision - the only choice I had was to do it or not - no complications with trying to decide if I could afford it - I could not afford to not have the surgery. Just my thoughts.

I don't know the bill I was never concerned to look it up, it was part of comments that I was reading in the globe ages ago and as part of the few limited patients got the band surgery covered by appealing to the health board... and then the govt passed a bill sometimes late Nov-Dec 07 timeframe excluding the band from being covered... The patients were Dr Kleins and only the patients that appealed from data a to date b prior to the bill being passed got the surgery cost (not the band) covered it was a very small number of patients. The poster in the comments section was their lawyer which is why he knew the details.... the article was something about weight loss

I have no mixed feelings I personally never want to see it covered for many many reasons but that is just me.... and not an arguement I am going to have for the dozenth time with anyone.

I spoke with my surgeon when that article came out late last fall and he told me that OHIP reimbursed the patients $750, which is the OHIP fee they would have paid the surgeon and anything on top of that amount, they had to sue the doctor for, which none did.

I never want it covered either for my own, very selfish reasons. Some WLS are covered and I like the fact that some are and some aren't and I have the choice to get it when I want it. Had I wanted any of the covered ones, I would have self-paid out of country as well so I didn't have to jump through OHIP hoops and wait years. I'm not a good circus clown and don't do hoops well. I'm happy that some WLS are covered for those that can't afford it but am also happy that I was able to get my WLS of choice when I wanted it.

If OHIP were to allow the band to be covered and still allow private clinics like they have in Quebec then that would be okay as well but for now, I like things just the way they are.