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From: howzyou on 19 Oct 2007 16:36


I called some places in Vancouver, Canada and they said that if I saw
a gastroentrologist and tested me for acid reflux they would do an EGD
which means endoscopy, biopsy and maybe a breath test. Is this
enough? Also they dont do the pH testing anymore. Do you think I
would be examined thoroughly enough? I would get my throat checked by
an ENT specialist first for the referral. And try to get it all done
in 10 days to two weeks. I would be pay cash as I am visiting.

From: howzyou on 19 Oct 2007 19:20


Really, why not? If you get the referral you are paying money because
it is private, why wouldnt they be able to set you up with a
gastroentrologist? He could do the EGD and biopsy really soon,
right? What about any other tests whatever they might be, how long
would they take?

From: H McCollister on 20 Oct 2007 10:55
In article <1192836002.227295.180530(a)v23g2000prn.googlegroups.com>,
howzyou(a)yahoo.co.uk wrote:

> Really, why not? If you get the referral you are paying money because
> it is private, why wouldnt they be able to set you up with a
> gastroentrologist? He could do the EGD and biopsy really soon,
> right? What about any other tests whatever they might be, how long
> would they take?

That's the point... those "other tests, whatever they might be" covers a
lot of ground. What tests are you going to need? What's their schedule
look like? When's their next opening for any or all of those tests?
What's their backlog?

Canadian medicine has relatively limited resources and there's a waiting
list for access to most of them. Maybe they'll squeeze a private pay
patient to the front of the line, but if I were a Canadian with GERD,
paying 55% marginal tax bracket and 24% VAT on every purchase I made in
order to support the Canadian health system, I'd be pretty pissed if
they jumped someone in line ahead of me.

The length of time necessary to complete a GERD workup is a question you
should ask the people you talked to. Most likely, the answer will be "it
depends...". These things vary so much from institution to institution,
there's no way anyone here could begin to guess how that particular
institution will be able to fit you in.

HMc
From: Peter on 20 Oct 2007 18:49
turn. (I would probably not be able to buy insurance if I lived
> permanently in the U.S. -- because of my health issues - age, gerd,
> hbp,

Did you mean BPH Mel :-)

cholesterol, glaucoma, etc)). So, because of our Canadian system
> I'm able to save up my pension money and spend it in your fine
> country this winter.
> -Mel Smith (leaving in two weeks for Arizona for the winter)


From: Mel Smith on 20 Oct 2007 20:11
Peter said:

>
> Did you mean BPH Mel :-)

Peter:

Altho I also have BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy), my other
insurance-related problem is HBP (High Blood Pressure) -- controlled by a
AtaCand Plus (a betablocker + a water pill in one capsule)

btw, the families of Alberta pay $88/month to the provincial government
for complete healthcare for their families (seniors like me pay nothing).
Most other provinces charge nothing to their citizens. So, our health care
system in Alberta is *not* free (for those under 65yo)

When we travel across our country, the healthcare is 'reciprocal' -- in
that the other provinces will 'charge-back' the home province for medical
services needed outside the home province. Except Quebec which refuses to
participate -- ya might know !)

So, altho Healthcare is run under *federal* rules, the actual operation
is run by the individual provinces -- setting fees, handling claims, paying
claims submitted by our 5000 doctors (who are private businessmen but who
bill *one* payer -- the provincial government), negotiating each year for
fees for the following year, etc. The cureent fee for seeing a GP and
getting a pat on the back and advice is approx $30.

-Mel Smith



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