YIPEE - free lapband surgery is finally coming to Ontario! :bounce:
My girlfriend's daughter had it and Manitoba covered most of it. Has anyone heard about the OHIP coverage for the band?
My doctor told me that the surgery will be covered by OHIP in April 2008 (or maybe she said March 2008) Each dr. will get less than $600 per procedure - with 2 surgeons, 1 anethestic, 2 nurses, plus the cost of an OR that's pretty cheap... compared to current prices.
She wasn't sure if the band would be covered, she hasn't seen anything on this. But she expects when OHIP starts coverage the only cost I'd have is the band -- but to expect the Ministery of Health would negotiate a price break and have one primary supplier. So the cost could be almost half price of current going fee in Canada $4,000 that I've been quoted.
The other cost she said is fills which she wouldn't expect covered since the government now charges for things like allergy shots. I know there are drs doing that for the allergan band, about $100... as Dr. Colburne's staff told me.
I can't understand why soemone would spend thousands of dollars, when it will be covered in April in Ontario. My question, if we're sending people to the US for R&Y will they send us for this procedure due to the long wait times? Does anyone know the Ontario wait time for the by pass?
I'm interested to see what others are hearing about OHIP coverage and how it's making you rethink getting ti done now.
I'll not book my surgery now with this new news. It's too expensive for me. :think I've got 75 pounds to lose (although the # sounds better in kilos)
Square (hoping to become a rectangle!):confused:
