This page is a practical guide for individuals exploring private orthopedic surgical care in British Columbia. You'll find an overview of public wait times, regulatory considerations, and a list of accredited surgeons practicing in BC.
Orthopedic surgeons specialize in conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system—bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Common concerns that bring patients to an orthopedic specialist include:
It may be time to see an orthopedic surgeon if:
More than 373,000 surgeries are performed in British Columbia each year, including thousands of hip and knee replacements. Most orthopedic surgeries are delivered through the publicly funded Medical Services Plan (MSP).
Private surgical options do exist in BC—more so than in many other Canadian provinces. But Canadian regulations restrict private BC surgeons from accepting payment for medically necessary surgeries from BC residents. The exception to this rule applies when a surgeon has 'opted-out' of MSP, in which case, they may see any Canadian from any province.
Private pay for purely elective surgeries (e.g. cosmetic, LASIK) are allowed under current regulations.
The reality is that most BC patients seeking timely surgical care, will need to travel out of province.
Current regulations: Unlike some provinces, BC does allow opted-out surgeons to treat local residents privately. However, the regulatory landscape around private surgery in BC has been subject to ongoing legal and political debate, most notably through the Cambie Surgery Centre constitutional challenge.
It depends on the procedure and setting. For purely elective, non-essential surgeries (such as cosmetic and ophthalmology), BC residents can pay out of pocket for surgery within BC.
But for essential surgeries (e.g. hip replacements, knee arthroscopy, ACL reconstruction, etc.), the answer is generally no. That is why most British Columbians who seek private surgery go out-of-province.
The exception is when a surgeon is opted out of MSP.
Yes. Note: the surgeon will likely require medical information and diagnostics (imaging, lab tests, etc.) before the consultation.
Generally, private surgeries performed in Canada are paid for out-of-pocket or via private insurance/ employer benefits.
Provincial plans (like OHIP, MSP, or AHCIP) typically do not cover procedures at private clinics, though some exceptions exist for WCB (Workers' Compensation) claims or specific inter-provincial programs.
Private insurance
Standard extended health benefits (e.g. Sun Life, Manulife) typically do not cover the cost of the surgery itself. However, they often cover related costs such as:
Health spending account
If your employer provides a Health Spending Account (HSA) or "flex account," you can often use these funds to pay for the surgery. Unlike standard benefits, HSAs are usually flexible enough to cover CRA-eligible medical expenses, including private facility fees.
Tax Credits (Federal & Provincial)
You may be able to get some financial relief at tax time.
Please consult a tax professional before claiming any private surgery fees on your taxes.
The costs for orthopedic surgery are substantial.
They vary considerably depending on the procedure, your underlying health conditions, the experience of the surgeon, type of anesthesia, etc., and can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000+.
For an overview on private surgery costs, see our Resources on Private Surgery Costs.
Private surgeons typically charge a consultation fee because a surgical consult involves clinical work before, during, and after the appointment.
A surgical consultation isn’t a “meet and greet.” It’s a formal medical assessment where the surgeon may:
In a private setting, the surgeon generally isn’t billing MSP for that time, so the consultation fee compensates them for expert assessment and diagnostic decision-making.
Private clinics also cover operating costs that public hospitals don’t fund in the same way, including:
The consultation fee helps support these resources and the infrastructure required to provide timely, organized care outside publicly funded hospital operations.
Wait times depend on urgency, imaging, and OR capacity.
If you’re over 60 with degenerative arthritis, you may be triaged differently than a younger patient with a locked knee or acute ligament injury. The fastest path usually comes from: clear diagnosis + complete imaging + documented failed conservative care.
In the Canadian medical system, wait times are divided into two distinct stages:
Note: 'Wait 1' wait times are not always reflected in publicly available records. The numbers below do not because BC does not have a centralized database to track the Wait 1 stage. There are approximately 1.2 million BC residents currently in Wait 1.
In BC, there ~26,000 people waiting for orthopedic surgery, ~15,000 are for hip and knee replacements alone.
For knee replacements, 50% of cases are completed within 22 weeks, and 90% are completed within 57 weeks. But depending on where you live, you may be waiting much longer (in Nanaimo, the 90th percentile is 85 weeks).
For hip replacements, 50% of cases are completed within 19 weeks, 90% of cases are completed within 52 weeks. The 90th percentile in Burnaby is 74 weeks.
