Most people went to Dr. Brassard in Montreal, whom most people would agree is a good SRS surgeon. In certain medical cases, like diabetes, people were sent to Dr. Meltzer in Arizona. If you objected to seeing Dr. Brassard or Dr. Meltzer, I have heard of an option to see another doctor if you have a reason. I have heard of someone going to Dr. Bowers, but I don't have that confirmed.
In the case of Dr. B or Dr. Z, flights were covered for, as well as the stay. If you requested another doctor, along with a reason for the request, then I'm not sure if the flights and extra costs would be covered.
The only cost that wasn't covered was the dilators, in which you could get your dilators from Montreal for $200 or from another source (like an online source). So, you had a choice if you wanted the ones Dr. B provided or not. Flights, and stay, and any other extras were included.
In order to get approved for funding, however, you'd need to see the psychiatrist in Edmonton for a year doing your RLT (real life test). Even if you are full-time before seeing the doc, the requirement by Alberta Health was to see him for a year full-time. If you saw him and weren't full-time, it would be the year from when you are full time. So, say you saw him but didn't go full time until 6 months later, you'd have to wait a year to get approval still.
He then would have another doc come in and do up the second letter at the end of your 1 year real life test. Both psychiatrists, and letters, are free of charge.
Now, there is a bit of a wait list to see the psychiatrist, especially because the demand has gotten pretty high in the last couple of years. A lot more people have felt more comfortable coming out, and a lot more people have moved to the province to obtain surgery. At one time it was only a couple months wait, but last year I believe the wait time was just hitting over the year mark.
Also, there used to be two doctors designated by the province to approve the funding for SRS. There was Dr. Warneke and Dr. Brooks. Dr. Brook retired 2 years ago, so that made only one Doctor for all of Alberta who was approved by the province to approve publicly-funded SRS.
So, if the system was still in place, it could take about two years to go the free route.
It took me a little less, about 1.5 years. My referal into the psych doctor was sent in Aug 2006, and I saw the doctor in May 2007, and my surgery (with Dr. Brassard) was in June 2008. I started full-time around June 2006.
Now, I know of a couple of people who did not want to wait, and got two letters via private practice and paid to go to Thailand. There's nothing in the laws here preventing someone from paying for the surgery themselves, the funding has always been an option.
Over all, the Alberta system wasn't bad. The Psychatrist (Dr. Warneke) was very nice, and seeing him wasn't difficult. I think the only criticism was that the wait time (which isn't his fault, but the lack of doctors and the province not allowing other doctors to approve the funding, plus the amount of people wanting surgery has trippled in the last few years).
The other criticism, due to the amount of patients, was the over load. So, instead of seeing the doctor every couple of months as in the past, most people would only see him 4 times a year and then get approved. So people criticized the system for being "too easy" because technically someone could try and BS themselves into getting surgery. The system was based on a system of trust. I am unaware of anyone trying to take advantage of the system and lying about being full-time, but it could be possible.
So, as a "gatekeeper" Dr. W wasn't harsh which appeased a lot of people, except a few who believed he should have been harsher and only selected a select few to get through the gates.
Ontario, on the other hand, is criticized for being "too strict" and having a very narrow view of what a woman or man should be. BC's wait time, I hear, is much longer than Alberta.
Over all, the system was good. The psych doc is nice, and isn't narrow minded. And you get to see Dr. Brassard for surgery -- which is nice.
--natalie
Post Merge: April 10, 2009, 03:15:00 AM
I should also note that it's just not about funding in Alberta, but it's making a case that SRS should be covered by health care insurance and that it's medically necessary and not an elective surgery. That actually impacts more than just Alberta, Canada, but can impact other parts in the world to strengthen the case that being transsexual is a medical condition -- and not a cosmetic condition.
Thus, the fight is being pushed as a human rights fight (like it was in Ontario). Ontario's case will, more than likely, help the case here in Alberta. And these two cases can help in other parts of the country as well as outside of the country.
Also, I should note, that although the province used to pay for SRS, it didn't pay for FFS, breast augmentation, laser hair removal, or hormones. Hormones can be covered by health insurance plans, however.
