What are your financing options?

Different ways to finance

The Lap-Band surgery and Gastric Balloon procedure are not insured services of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or other provincial health plans. Some private insurance companies may reimburse patients for a small portion of the costs. If you have private medical insurance we encourage you to contact your insurance company.

Federal Tax Credits

The Lap-Band surgery and Gastric Balloon procedure have been shown to treat obesity and resolve related health conditions such as Type II diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea. Therefore they qualify as medical expenses, which are eligible for federal tax credits under Canadian income tax law. To take advantage of this benefit, the procedure has to be recommended or prescribed by a medical practitioner such as your surgeon or Family Doctor. We recommend you check with your accountant or tax planner to determine applicability and potential benefit in individual circumstances. Travel and related caregiver expenses for medical procedures can sometimes also be claimed.

Third Party Financing

If you choose to finance one of the procedures, this can be arranged through Medicard, which is a company that specializes in financing uninsured medical and cosmetic procedures. The application process is completely confidential. Medicard application forms can be completed online at http://www.medicard.com/disclaimer.php and approval is usually granted within 24 to 48 hours.

The Surgical Weight Loss Centre does not get directly involved in arranging financing and has no financial relationship with Medicard. The details above are provided for information purposes only. You can also consider contacting your local bank or financial institution to discuss financing options.

Situations where there may be additional costs:

A) If your procedure takes place at the Trillium Health Centre

The majority of our patients are candidates to have their procedure performed at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre. However, some patients may require that it be performed at the Trillium Health Centre. This may apply to some patients with a BMI greater than 60, or those who have major co-morbidities, multiple previous abdominal operations and other higher-risk patients. In these specific circumstances there will be additional hospital charges to have the Lap-Band procedure performed at the Trillium Health Centre.

B) Previous weight loss surgery (acceptable candidates)

If you have had a previous bariatric procedure, such as a gastric bypass or a vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), that has not been successful, you may be a candidate for the Lap-Band procedure. We require a copy of the original operative note in order to help determine whether the Lap-Band procedure is a suitable option for you. These patients may require an upper GI endoscopy and/or barium study performed prior to their procedure (these are covered by provincial health plans). There will be additional charges due to the complexity of surgery for those who have had previous bariatric surgery.

C) Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD)

As preparation for the Lap-Band procedure, patients are prescribed at least two weeks of a nutritionally very low calorie diet (VLCD). The purpose of the VLCD is to reduce fat that is stored in the liver, which makes the surgical procedure safer. This product is prescribed by the surgeon and distributed by Minogue Medical in Montreal. Patients will receive a prescription, and instructions on how to have it shipped directly to them at the time of booking their procedure. Some patients may require the VLCD for longer periods of time pre-operatively. For more information on VLCDs , click here.