My Experience With Treating Sleep Apnea in Canada

We Canadians consider health care a right and not a privilege. In fact, some of my American friends consider Canadian healthcare to be a mythical unicorn.

According to the Government of Canada's website, "universal coverage for medically necessary health care services provided on the basis of need, rather than the ability to pay."¹

However, that is not to say that I haven't had excellent health care when I lived in other countries; I just had to pay for it.

How the sleep apnea diagnosis process began

On the other hand, I've found that diagnosis and subsequent treatment in Canada do take a long time. For example, in order to get a diagnosis for my sleep apnea, I first had to see my family doctor. The family doctor or general practitioner is the one to make a referral to a specialist.

The next step was to make an appointment to see a sleep doctor, who I never knew existed before now. Finally, the sleep doctor recommended a sleep study. I believe it was 6 months after voicing my concerns to my doctor that I was able to do a sleep study.

Going for the sleep study

After that, it was time to do the sleep study. In my case, I did 3 sleep studies before I finally started using CPAP.

The first doctor at the clinic recommended CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, my family doctor disagreed. He felt that I was too young at 30-something to need CPAP. So I waited a few years. Meanwhile, my sleep apnea and my health worsened.

Finally, I returned to my family doctor and repeated the same process. Keep in mind, I haven't paid for anything up to this point.

Getting my CPAP machine and mask

Not surprisingly, after the second sleep study, the diagnosis was severe OSA. This time I was determined to start treatment. So off I went to my third sleep study. This is the one with a CPAP machine so they could determine my settings.

After that, I chose a mask and took home a machine to try out for 2 weeks. Still not paying a dime out of pocket. Luckily, I took to CPAP without any difficulties. Now it was time to purchase my machine.

Cost of my CPAP machine

In the province of Ontario, where I live, the cost of the machine is mostly covered. I only had to pay $200 out of pocket for my CPAP with hose and mask.

Private insurance will cover the rest; however, at the time, I did not have insurance through my job. That coverage under the provincial healthcare system is valid for 5 years. That is to say, I can replace my machine every 5 years, with most of it being paid for by the province.

The impact of COVID-19

Eventually, my 5 years rolled around just before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to the wait time for scheduling a sleep study, mine got cancelled as everything shut down.

It's now been 6 years since I started using CPAP, and I'm way overdue for a new machine. Now I have to start the process all over again. That is to say, meet with my family doctor so he can send a referral. Followed by a meeting with the sleep doctor and wait for a sleep study appointment.

Grateful for universal healthcare

In conclusion, my experience with managing sleep apnea under the Canadian healthcare system has been far from ideal. However, I do sleep peacefully at night, knowing that I have universal healthcare in my corner.