Ontario And Ohip

[Flaykee]

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

[sora]

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

[whitepine]

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.

[K-Dawg]

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.

[Deaminated Marcus]

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]

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]

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

And the gastro symptoms are just IBS.  

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

[MissyBB]

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]

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

And the gastro symptoms are just IBS.  

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]

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]

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

[Rucko]

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.  

[Curious9]

Hello, 

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

Thanks!

[scrumdidlly]

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]

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.

[Bec the Lemon]

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.