Referrals..

Why does a person need a referral to a specialist in order to get something done?

If we feel like something is wrong in that area we should be able to just walk in and make an appointment. Especially if we are paying cash from our pocket at the time of the appointment to have something done.

I can not be seen here unless I have money the day of the appointment to pay. If I don't, I don't get seen.


When I lived in the U.S I had a barrium swallow done and they had found something in my throat and I had an appointment to see have an endoscopy done. Never went to have it done and ended up moving to Canada. Now I'm having issues with my throat and want to have it looked at but I have to go to a doctor to have them refer me to them...


I don't want to have to pay for this doctors visit. Just for the doctor to put me through another barrium swallow just to later refer me to the doctor I want to see.


I don't have the money to throw into all these visits. BLAH.

Becasue specialists cost more money and insurances don't want to pay that if your primary care can do it for cheaper.

umm I didnt think you had to pay for doctors or specialist visits in Canada...Usually health care is Free here!

Quoting Mumz:" umm I didnt think you had to pay for doctors or specialist visits in Canada...Usually health care is Free here!"

Only if you are a perm resident or citizen.

its because here in canada our healthcare is covered by the government. so the system is different. you need a referral so you can see them because they cost more therefore they want to make sure you have something wrong in that area.

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" Becasue specialists cost more money and insurances don't want to pay that if your primary care can do it for cheaper."

Um she has no inshurance health care in canada is free if ur from the us however u have to pay she is willing to pay

OP try to get ur medical records from the us faxed to the canada doctor.

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" Becasue specialists cost more money and insurances don't want to pay that if your primary care can do it for cheaper."

But if we don't have insurance or a primary care doctor we should be able to make an appointment, find out the cost, come up with the money, and then make the appointment.

I'm just venting. I'm mad because I want to have this all taken care of and i'm sick of waiting for all this BS to go through. I could have this all done and over with if I could just find how much it would cost and just have it done without all the other things needing to be done first.

Quoting kirsten anita:" its because here in canada our healthcare is covered by the government. so the system is different. you ... [snip!] ... a referral so you can see them because they cost more therefore they want to make sure you have something wrong in that area."

The thing with that is that I'm not using OHIP so I'm not costing the government anything. The money would be from my pocket not theirs.

Quoting 03751908485:" Um she has no inshurance health care in canada is free if ur from the us however u have to pay she is willing to pay OP try to get ur medical records from the us faxed to the canada doctor. "

Yeah, I'm working on trying to find a Primary Doctor so that I can have that done. Soooo many doctors here aren't accepting new patients unless they have family that is already being seen by that doctor.


It sucks.

I think the reason why you have to get referals from a doctor to see a specialist because they are busy and they dont just want anyone walking into their office for not so important reasons when there are more important issues like cancer patients that need to be looked after. It sucks sometimes, especially when it takes you months to get into a specialist and your dying of cancer..but on a positive note WELCOME TO CANADA LOL

Can you call the doctors office and ask how much it costs for that procedure with no insurance. Then save up that much money.

Quoting C'est La Vie♡:" Yeah, I'm working on trying to find a Primary Doctor so that I can have that done. Soooo many doctors ... [snip!] ... many doctors here aren't accepting new patients unless they have family that is already being seen by that doctor. It sucks."

Could u talk to the spelisist and see if they will accept medical records for u and go from there maybe

i know but its not like the states where if you have the money then you get treated differently. specialists here have long waiting lists therefore even if paying out of pocket refferals are still needed because they are really busy. its all public care here and everyone is treated the same

Quoting ~Due with number two~:" Can you call the doctors office and ask how much it costs for that procedure with no insurance. Then save up that much money. "

No, they won't take anyone unless they have a referral we went in and asked if we were allowed to just make an appointment and then said No

Quoting kirsten anita:" i know but its not like the states where if you have the money then you get treated differently. specialists ... [snip!] ... of pocket refferals are still needed because they are really busy. its all public care here and everyone is treated the same"

i should die laughing my son needs special services and i have to wait 6 months to a year for him to get in....