How to Get Surgery Faster in Canada: A Clear Guide to Your Options
In this article, you’ll find:
Option #1: Keep Waiting in the Public System—The Risks of Doing Nothing
Option #2: Referral to Another Public Hospital—Does It Really Save Time?
Option #3: Cut Wait Times Using Personal Connections (If You Have Them)
Option #4: Considering Surgery in the U.S.? The Costs May Surprise You
Option #5: Going Abroad for Surgery—Cheap, Exotic, and Risky
Option #6: Private Surgery in Canada—A Legal, Local Alternative to Long Waits
Canada has some of the longest surgical wait times among developed countries. Fewer than one-third of Canadians in need of a specialist will see one within a month, and one in ten will wait over a year.
For those requiring surgery, that initial consultation is just the beginning—the wait for an actual operating room date can stretch an additional year or more, depending on the procedure.
In this article, we’ll explain the pros and cons of the options Canadians have for accessing surgery faster. The first three options focus on navigating the public healthcare system more efficiently, while the next three explore private-pay options—both within Canada and internationally.
Option #1: Keep Waiting in the Public System—The Risks of Doing Nothing
While it might be tempting to trust that Canada’s healthcare system will resolve its surgical backlog, the data tells a different story. Wait times have steadily worsened since the 1990s, with median surgical delays now exceeding 50 weeks in some provinces.
The picture becomes even more concerning when you break it down by specialty. Elective surgeries—such as joint replacements, ENT procedures, and gynecological operations—tend to have the longest queues. For example, many patients waiting for a knee replacement in the public system face 8 to 12 months just to see a surgeon, followed by another year waiting for an operating room date.
Waiting this long can take a serious toll on both your physical and mental health, often leading to poorer long-term outcomes.
Option #2: Referral to Another Public Hospital—Does It Really Save Time?
If you're fortunate enough to have a family doctor in Canada, you can ask them to refer you to a public hospital in another city. This keeps you within your home province and inside the public healthcare system.
In some cases, this strategy may get you seen more quickly, but the time saved is often minimal. Increasingly, regional hospitals are closing their doors to out-of-town referrals to prioritize patients from their own communities.
Option #3: Cut Wait Times Using Personal Connections (If You Have Them)
Some Canadians are fortunate enough to have a friend or relative who’s a surgeon—or who knows someone with influence in the healthcare system. In rare cases, these personal connections can help expedite access to a specialist or bump up your operating room date.
These kinds of back channels are often kept quiet for obvious reasons, and the reality is that very few Canadians have this kind of access. Still, if you do happen to know someone who knows someone, it never hurts to ask.
Option #4: Considering Surgery in the U.S.? The Costs May Surprise You
Once a more feasible route, heading to the U.S. for surgery is increasingly out of reach for most Canadians. While the country is home to some of the world’s most skilled and prestigious surgeons—and offers quick access to top-tier care—the question now is: can you afford it?
Out-of-pocket costs for uninsured knee or hip replacements in the U.S. typically range from $25,000 to $60,000 USD. Prices vary depending on the procedure, the city or state, and whether it’s done in a hospital or an outpatient centre. At the time of writing, the USD–CAD exchange rate sits at around 1.43, putting the Canadian equivalent between $35,000 and $85,000 CAD. And that’s before accounting for travel, lodging, and other cross-border expenses.
Unless there’s a major shift in the exchange rate—or a thaw in the political relationship between Canada and the U.S.—American medical tourism will remain out of reach for most Canadians stuck on long waitlists.
Option #5: Going Abroad for Surgery—Cheap, Exotic, and Risky
Medical tourism is nothing new in Canada. Between 2017 and 2022, Canadians spent over $2.3 billion on out-of-country care, including elective surgeries. Depending on the destination, the cost of procedures abroad can be significantly lower than in Canada, and especially compared to the U.S. (see above). Add in the chance to visit a country you’ve always wanted to explore, and the appeal of surgery abroad becomes clear.
The Risks of Surgery are Magnified When Traveling Abroad
But it’s not without risks. All surgeries can potentially lead to complications, and those risks are magnified when the procedure takes place overseas. If you develop a surgical site infection, experience a major bleed, or need emergency follow-up care, you may be left to arrange and fund treatment yourself—often thousands of kilometres from home. Many patients are faced with a tough choice: purchase costly extended health and travel insurance or accept the risk of going uninsured.
To save on costs, some Canadians turn to destinations like Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Israel, or India. While these countries offer attractive pricing—and are beautiful in their own right—there are added concerns around political or social instability. On top of that, not all countries maintain the same training and accreditation standards as Canadian regulatory bodies, which means the responsibility falls on the patient to thoroughly research their surgeon’s credentials and the health facility’s standards.
Option #6: Private Surgery in Canada—A Legal, Local Alternative to Long Waits
This brings us to private surgery in Canada—an option many Canadians don’t realize exists. While the public system plays a vital role in providing universal healthcare, the country’s growing private sector helps reduce surgical backlogs and gives patients the ability to bypass long public waitlists.
Keeping your care within Canada has several advantages. For one, you won’t have to worry about currency conversion or fluctuating exchange rates. It’s also much more affordable than heading to the U.S.: private hip and knee replacements in Canada typically cost $20,000–$30,000 CAD—less than half the price of having the same procedure done south of the border (see Option 4). While this price tag is nothing to sneeze at, there are several options to help finance private surgeries in Canada so that you’re not paying such a large bill up front.
You’ll also be treated by a Canadian-accredited surgeon at a high-quality surgical facility. The risks tied to political or social instability that can come with overseas medical tourism don’t apply when traveling within Canada. And should complications arise, it’s far easier to receive timely follow-up care in your own province or territory.
Know the Rules of Interprovincial Healthcare in Canada
That said, there are a few rules to understand when accessing interprovincial healthcare:
You can’t pay for faster access to a covered procedure in your home province.
Uninsured procedures, like most cosmetic surgeries, can be paid for privately.
Emergency care while travelling in another province is covered.
Elective surgeries (e.g. joint replacements and repairs) in another province are not covered.
Want to dig deeper? Learn more about how private surgery works in Canada.
Curious about the private options available in Canada?
How Surgency Simplifies Access to Private Surgery in Canada
While Canada's health system offers universal care, it doesn’t always offer timely access. Whether you're choosing to wait, navigating out-of-town referrals, or exploring private care at home or abroad, understanding your options is the first step toward taking control of your surgical timeline.
Taking Control of Your Surgical Care
Surgency makes it easy for Canadians to access private surgical care across provinces without any of the guesswork. Whether you're looking for faster hip or knee replacement surgery or want to explore out-of-province options, we connect you directly with accredited Canadian surgeons operating at top-tier surgical centres.
You’ll be able to:
Compare available surgeons by specialty and location
Request a consultation directly from your preferred provider
Avoid U.S. pricing, international risks, and long public wait times
Want to learn more about what is and isn’t true about private surgery in Canada? Debunk the common myths associated with private surgery and learn how it can help save Canada’s public system.
