Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Ontario And Ohip

Flaykee

By Flaykee
in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff

Recommended Posts

Flaykee Rookie
Flaykee
Posted

When I went to my new doctor about being tested for celiac disease, I was informed that OHIP doesn't cover the cost of the celiac panel blood work. I didn't care because as far as I was concerned, it was worth it. I tested positive. It's still worth the $125.00 it cost. ( Several years ago, when I first brought the idea of me having celiac disease up to my doctor, he said no because I wasn't wasting away. So I trusted this "diagnosis" and continued to have health issues until my health deteriorated drastically last year.)

HOWEVER, it got me thinking. Isn't it better for OHIP to cover this cost than to keep covering costs for related medical issues of those who remain undiagnosed? If I add up all the times I went to the doctor for gastrointestinal issues, severe unexplained body/joint pain, depression, general unwellness, body rashes, miscarriages (possibly related to celiac disease) over the years and the operation to remove my gallbladder , not to mention the prescriptions (sometimes paid by insurance companies if you're lucky to have a plan), it must be in the high hundreds if not thousands. And had I not been diagnosed, I would have continued to make medical trips for some of the prementioned and possibly new symptoms!

I believe that Ontario is the only province in Canada that doesn't cover the cost.

Just my rant for the day :rolleyes:

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


sora Community Regular
sora
Posted

OHIP will cover the test if you have it done at a hospital blood clinic.

  • 3 weeks later...
whitepine Apprentice
whitepine
Posted

I haven't been tested yet because of the cost of the blood work. I am pretty sure I am gluten intolerant or have celiac so I stopped eatting it completely last April. There are actually quite a few blood tests that OHIP doesn't cover because they take a lot of time and work in the lab. So I think this might be the reason why some aren't covered because if they allowed all of these long blood tests to be free it would likely cause problems in labratories and people would get behind.

It's silly yes, since I think gluten intolerance is more common than we think and the cost stopped me from getting the test, 125 dollars for a blood test or 125 dollars for food.

  • 3 weeks later...
K-Dawg Explorer
K-Dawg
Posted

As far as I know, the poster who noted the nuance to ohip coverage is correct. My liver specialist shared the same info with me. I did not pay for my blood panel in ontario.

  • 1 month later...
Deaminated Marcus Apprentice
Deaminated Marcus
Posted

Well said Flaykee, 

 

I saw an idiot doctor back in the fall of 2010 after I felt better after I went gluten free.

She told me not to get tested because it's too expensive.

She could have sent me for a tTG at the hospital.

This year after reading on this forum, I went for the full panel at $125

but tested negative possibly because I was gluten free for so long and my low IgA.

 

I thought of the exact same thing.

OHIP would save a ton of money if they tested kids at say 5 or 6 years old or had the free Celiac panel

rather than having us see all kinds of specialists for a myriad of health problems.

janpell Apprentice
janpell
Posted

My doctor(s) wouldn't test me for Celiac because I don't have gastrointesintal issues but I had so many other things going on. "Food is not your issue" I believe I was told.  I quit gluten two years ago and my issues have cleared 90-95%. My son was tested at age two and his test was covered by OHIP.

Deaminated Marcus Apprentice
Deaminated Marcus
Posted

janpell, the gastro doctor I saw about 2 weeks ago said: "you don't fit the profile". :blink:

And the gastro symptoms are just IBS.   :wacko:

He must have gone to the same medical school as your doctor. ^_^

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 1 month later...
MissyBB Explorer
MissyBB
Posted

Ugh....I am in Ontario too and was seriously thinking about going and getting tested. I hate our sick care system. Honestly, the province does NOTHING to support preventative medicine. All they do is play catch-up once you are already sick. I am so tired of our crappy health care. And, I agree, it would make more sense to offer the testing for no fee so celiacs can stay healthy, hence, saving the tax payer and the entire system money in the long run. The $125 for the test, if paid by OHIP, could save literally thousands and tens of thousands of dollars later when that celiac gets really sick. Ugh....makes me want to pull my hair out.

MissyBB Explorer
MissyBB
Posted

janpell, the gastro doctor I saw about 2 weeks ago said: "you don't fit the profile". :blink:

And the gastro symptoms are just IBS.   :wacko:

He must have gone to the same medical school as your doctor. ^_^

 This is because, contrary to popular belief, medical doctors do not take nutrition training while in school. And if you don't understand nutrition and what is IN foods then you can't possibly have a handle on what happens with regard to that particular food once it enters the body. 

 

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"......wise words! 

Charmainee Newbie
Charmainee
Posted

In my opinion, I think it is true that the government wants to keep us sick.  Look around at all of your friends and family who are employed in the medical profession or field: doctors, nurses, labs, psw's, dietary, housekeeping, laundry, etc.  Without sickness, what job would you have?  For us to have jobs, the population must remain sick.  Even I am employed at a Senior's home.  If they had had proper care and support, a lot of them wouldn't be in there.

 

I support Alternative Practitioners, gain of personal knowledge and preventative 'medicine'.  Maybe one day our government will as well.   

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Just want to remind everyone that this is not a forum for political debate.

  • 3 months later...
Rucko Apprentice
Rucko
Posted

So Ontarians, to get the test, does your doctor still have to order it?  Just wondering.  I have a brother in Ontario who hasn't been tested and really should.  

  • 2 weeks later...
Curious9 Newbie
Curious9
Posted

Hello, 

For posters in Ontario who has the $125 celiac blood panel done, which tests did it include? 

Thanks!

  • 1 month later...
scrumdidlly Newbie
scrumdidlly
Posted

Hello, 

For posters in Ontario who has the $125 celiac blood panel done, which tests did it include? 

Thanks!

Here's a link to Life Lab's description of their celiac testing http://tests.lifelabs.com/Chemistry/C/CELIAC_DISEASE_TESTING.aspx?s=1

scrumdidlly Newbie
scrumdidlly
Posted

Here's a link to Life Lab's description of their celiac testing http://tests.lifelabs.com/Chemistry/C/CELIAC_DISEASE_TESTING.aspx?s=1

 

I should add that I have no affiliation with them. It's that lab my doctor sends me to (cause it's in her building) so they are the ones I've researched. It could be different at other labs and they don't mention pricing, just that it's not covered.

  • 3 years later...
Bec the Lemon Apprentice
Bec the Lemon
Posted

Im shocked to hear it wasnt covered but it honestly explains a lot and Im truly enraged. My doctor watched me drop weight dramatically, she watch me suffer, sent me to the emergancy room more then once because I needed IV fluids or I physically couldnt leave on my own I was so dizzy/weak. And every time I asked her to test me for digestive issues I was brushed off and told it would blow over and I just had anxiety. I lost 30 pounds in less then 2 months (and to begin with I was never overweight, never have been in my entire life) so I didnt really have 30 pounds to lose. It was only on the 4th trip to the emergency room I was finally sent to rapid access (internal medicine) where they finally tested me. It didnt even occur to me that it wasnt covered because I wasnt told because my doctor wouldnt give me the option to consider. I cant believe in Canada of all places we dont cover something so vital. Its shameful. 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,329
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    klkarius
    Newest Member
    klkarius
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.