Canada: surgery cost on tax report

[don_joe]

To my fellow Canadians,

I know plastic surgeries were deductible at the federal level as medical expenses until 2009.  The privilege was removed starting in 2010 in the last budget.

As to the provincial level, I live in Quebec and I have been told that plastic surgeries are not considered valid medical expenses. However, I read the tax report guide and it says that surgeries for "purely aesthetic purposes" are not covered. My point/question is: is GRS purely aesthetic ? I would argue that it is not, since gyne is caused by hormonal unbalances in teenage years.

Has anybody tried to include GRS costs as medical expenses in Quebec or other provinces ?  Were you asked to justify the deduction ? If so, how did it go ? If I am the first to think about doing it -I would hardly believe it-, do you guys think I would have a case ?

[Idlewild]

I've read that the surgery can be covered if 4 conditions are met;

1) Gland related, not from obesity or drugs
2) Procedure must describe glandular excision
3) For adolescent males, a bone age test must be done to show that the gynecomastia is not expected to resolve itself post-puberty
4) Must show a risk towards eventual manifestation of any or all of the following: depression and isolation, weight issues, potential adolescent diabetes and cardio vascular issues.

Those are the conditions for insurance in the US. It is probably similar here in Canada, if a bit more lax. Most of all, it must be a gland issue and not caused by drugs, and won't go away on it's own.

I myself have a consultation with an endocrinologist here in Quebec in 2 weeks, I will let you guys know what's up 

[don_joe]

I've read that the surgery can be covered if 4 conditions are met;

1) Gland related, not from obesity or drugs
2) Procedure must describe glandular excision
3) For adolescent males, a bone age test must be done to show that the gynecomastia is not expected to resolve itself post-puberty
4) Must show a risk towards eventual manifestation of any or all of the following: depression and isolation, weight issues, potential adolescent diabetes and cardio vascular issues.

Those are the conditions for insurance in the US. It is probably similar here in Canada, if a bit more lax. Most of all, it must be a gland issue and not caused by drugs, and won't go away on it's own.

I myself have a consultation with an endocrinologist here in Quebec in 2 weeks, I will let you guys know what's up 

Hey man thanks a lot, very interesting...

Just out of curiosity, why are you going to see an endocrinologist ?  I am almost 1 year post-op and when I asked my PS before the surgery if I should do an hormonal balance test, he basically shrugged and said "if you want to...".

Keep me posted !

[Idlewild]

The conditions above are sort of a baseline, but one more condition that turns out to be sometimes very important, depending on the insurance company, is breast pain (especially in the US). They say that it must exhibit breast pain depending on the insurance company, so check up on the insurance company you guys have and their regulations 

Np np, im going to see an endocrino cause even though I know I have it and it needs to be surgically corrected, its just the way it goes if you want it to be covered under insurance here in Canada. We see our GP's they send us to an endocrinologist, endocrinologist then decides if you need surgery, medication, or nothing, sends a letter to the provincial health agency, they then send you a certificate to get it covered by any provincially affiliated surgeon. Sometimes you can get it done by a private surgeon who will then send the bill to the province.

Each step is very long and just another opportunity for them to deny coverage, but its the only option those of us who can't afford the surgery have.

For example, I saw my GP on February 2nd, and only have an appointment to see an endocrinologist for April 28th...

[Grandpa Bambu]

I saw my GP on February 2nd, and only have an appointment to see an endocrinologist for April 28th...

Yup... sometimes it can take months, even years to see a specialist...

GB...

[Idlewild]

Alright, just saw my endocrinologist. He was very kind and caring, we discussed what I had researched and he was never dismissive (what a relief!). We knew that because of my age and the fact that medications weren't too great for this sort of thing, that my only option was surgery. He gave me a form for a blood test to check my hormones, but he said that in all the cases he's encountered only one person had a hormonal problem that could be fixed in that regard rather than surgery. Since he expects that the blood test will come back normal, he also gave me a referral to see a plastic surgeon. He said that he knew of some other surgeons but he knows that I care about this a lot and he wants it to be done correctly and with care. However, he told me that he doesn't know if it ever gets covered by insurance or what not because he sends them to see the plastic surgeon and then never sees them again, so he never gets a follow up.

I called up the plastic surgeon's office and they said that gynecomastia is only covered under the age of 18. I was worried but I believe that if it is deemed medically necessary they might make an exception. My doctor even said to say that i'm depressed and make it dramatic, cause it does affect my quality of life.

So it seems that if you have gynecomastia and you're under the age of 18 just go see a doctor right away, you'll have no problem getting it removed. But if you're older, like me, you do have to fight for the medically necessary part.

My appt is at the end of may, will write up more info as I get it

[Idlewild]

Haven't updated in awhile!

Saw the plastic surgeon, she told me that in quebec, under 18 is covered, after that it's a case by case basis. She sent me for an ultrasound, which came up normal. I was really lucky too, apparently getting an ultrasound is a long wait but I got mine next day. She sent a letter to the government for me because it really affected my life, waiting to hear about that, she said she would get a response probably at the end of summer.

Waiting patiently!

[don_joe]

At a boy ! This means you would get free surgery ?

I guess I shouldn't worry about including my surgery as medical expense then. I got mine in Ontario so I would be surprised Quebec's gvt would pay for it. Ah well I don't care, I am amazed every day by my results !

Take it easy...

[Idlewild]

Yep! It would be free! Apparently its covered officially no problem if your under 18, after that its much harder.

[theflip44]

i wish i had known that before darn, just turned 19.

[Actorboob]

I don't know if this helps, but as an actor, i was able to write off a portion as a business expense (me, myself and i being the business)

I think I got about 500 or so back as a result.

Cheers,
Actorboob (wait.. i need to change my name to Actorboobless now)

[don_joe]

I don't know if this helps, but as an actor, i was able to write off a portion as a business expense (me, myself and i being the business)

I think I got about 500 or so back as a result.

Cheers,
Actorboob (wait.. i need to change my name to Actorboobless now)

Hey man that is good news !  Being self-employed, I just might do the same...

[Idlewild]

So its been a few months, apparently they are "back-ordered" or the equivalent for this kind of thing, hope I hear from them soon!

[Idlewild]

Been a while again!

Everythings going good, surgery COVERED and will be done in December! Looking forward to it!

Cheers everyone