I am considering moving to Canada to help me afford SRS? Good idea or Bad?

[Stacy0315]

Hello.  I am a MtF TS looking to complete my journey by having SRS.  Sadly I have little money and cannot afford surgery in the USA, where i currently live.  I am in search of some facts & advice regarding a possible move to Canada for SRS.  I am at the point where I have done all of the Harry Benjamin requirement over the past 5+ years now, including hormones & real life exp.  I know I will have to go through the process of seeing new therapists and doctors is Canada if I move, but I need to know if this is something other TS's like myself have done before me.

I need help, advice and/or facts about maybe moving to Canada.  I know that if I move there I will have to wait for my health insurance to begin ater 6 months, along with other things.  But the big questions is, Does Quebec and/or Ontario health insurance cover SRS after moving & finishing the requirements for either province?  If so, should I move to Montreal?  I do not speak French,is that a bad idea in terms of finding work?  Would Toronto be better a idea, then travel to Montreal for SRS?  Has anyone done this before that could help me plan?

Thank you for your time.  I am so desperate to complete this process.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Stacy

[Amazon D]

Here's Vancouver Coastal Health's transgender health website: http://transhealth.vch.ca/
They've got a bunch of downloadable booklets halfway down this page that have lots of good information:

[Jamiep]

Hi Stacy,

Links that may have some answers for you.

Quebec - http://www.atq1980.org/en/vie-quotidienne/procedures-legales-et-medicales/

GRS & under Doctors is well known Brassard (6 month wait list) - http://grsmontreal.com/anglais.html

Ontario - http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20080515/Smitherman_surgery_080515/

Sherbourne Health Center in Toronto - http://www.sherbourne.on.ca/

I think I get the impression from the items about the two provinces, that if their provincial plans do cover any if at all of the SRS that you have to be a permanent resident that through work has payroll deductions paying into the provincial health plans.

Ontario, I saw a presentation from people at 519 Church St. community support in the GLBTQI village, for those that can't afford the cost of transition, even though the province has offered funding, it is really designed to fail the person, so the government doesn't have much payout. You have to go through CAMH. I have two friends that were treated badly to the detriment of them proceeding & dropped out.

I have several friends going through partial transition & one looking to have SRS done via SHC.
I spoke to a staff member there recently about registering and they have a one year wait list before seeing one of their medical people. Sherbourne Health Center has Ontario Hospital Insurance Plan (OHIP), but I am sure it doesn't cover everything, as I know the one looking at having SRS, says she is saving for the procedure.

Looks like no way around the financial issue.

I had relatives in Montreal and have been there many times and love the city. The west end is where the English speaking people live, so could be jobs there and not have to worry about speaking French, probably the business section in the downtown core. Not that you can't get by speaking English in the city, you can. Outside the city in the province you will find the populace requires you to speak French.

Toronto & Montreal like a lot of big cities in NA and world wide may not have a lot of hiring going on in our down economy.

Wish I had better news.

Check out the links and see what you think.

Jamie