Private pay means the patient is responsible for the costs of care, rather than relying on public health insurance to cover the costs. This may include consultation, facility fees, anesthesia, surgical services, nursing care, equipment, supplies, and related administrative costs, depending on the specific care pathway. Patients receive clear cost information before deciding whether to proceed.

This depends on the nature of the service, the patient’s situation, and Alberta’s insured-service rules. Non-Albertans can pay privately for medically necessary gynecologic surgery in Alberta as they do not have Alberta health care coverage.

Some services may be eligible for private payment. Other services may fall within Alberta’s publicly insured healthcare framework. Before proceeding, we will review whether the proposed service can be offered through a private-pay pathway and will explain the available public and private options.

Patients should not assume that every medically necessary procedure can simply be privately purchased in Alberta.

No. Private-pay surgical care is not a replacement for publicly funded healthcare. Alberta residents continue to have access to insured medically necessary care through the public system. Private pay care may be an additional pathway only in selected circumstances, for selected patients, and for selected services.

In many cases, yes. Patients should not remove themselves from a public waitlist unless they have made a fully informed decision and understand the implications. A private consultation can help clarify whether private pay surgery is appropriate, but it does not automatically replace the public pathway.

Suitability is determined by the surgical and anesthesia teams after reviewing the diagnosis, medical history, medications, prior surgeries, imaging, anesthesia risk, and expected surgical complexity.

If an out-of-hospital facility is not appropriate, we will explain why and recommend a safer or more appropriate pathway.

No, a referral is not necessary. Patients may contact us directly to begin the intake process.

We may request prior imaging, lab work, consultation notes, pathology reports, or other records before confirming whether consultation is appropriate.

Not necessarily, consultation does not guarantee surgery. Responsible surgical care includes identifying when surgery is not appropriate, when more information is needed, or when hospital-based care is the better option.

Costs vary depending on the nature and length of the procedure, which will impact anesthesia needs, facility time, equipment, supplies, etc.

Patients receive a written estimate before proceeding. The estimate will clarify what is included, what is not included, and what additional costs may arise.