Living with spinal cord injury is expensive. Whether or not health insurance picks up some of the medical tab, many Americans with SCI find themselves paying out of pocket for numerous goods and services necessary for quality of life: home modifications, accessible transportation, supplies, and homecare not covered by insurance. The average yearly health care and living expenses vary according to the severity of the injury, but all SCI survivors can expect a hit to the pocketbook, especially within the first year.
Different Types of Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries are typically classified as either complete or incomplete. In patients with a complete injury there is no sensory or motor function preserved below the level of injury. Patients with incomplete injury have some preserved function.
Spinal cord injuries are also classified by the vertebra or vertebrae which sustained the injury. The higher up on the spinal cord that the injury is, the more function is lost.
Spinal cord injuries to the neck are considered cervical injuries. Most severe of the spinal cord injury levels, this injury causes paralysis in arms, hands, trunk and legs, known as tetraplegia or quadriplegia. An injury to the C3 level affects the body from the shoulders down, while an injury a little lower down on C7 affords the patient use of the hands.
Injuries to thoracic and lumbar vertebrae occur lower down, affecting lower extremities and often bowel and bladder function, similar to cervical injuries.
The Expense of Injury
The National Disability Institute estimates that households containing an adult with a work disability require, on average, 28% more income. Individuals with high-level spinal cord injuries will attest to their need being much higher.
Complete assistance with activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, bathing, and getting in or out of bed requires plenty of personal care attendant hours- a service only picked up by Medicaid recipients and a major bill for individuals with private insurance.
Home care is expensive. According to the National Disability Institute, an individual receiving just 30 hours of weekly care on average paid about 40K annually in 2021.
According to the National Institute of Health, first-year spinal cord injury costs range from $218,504 for incomplete motor function at any level to $741,425 for high tetraplegia (C1–C4) injuries.
Recurring annual cost ranges from $27,568 for paraplegia to $54,400 for low tetraplegia and up to $132,807 for high tetraplegia.
Affording Spinal Cord Injury
If you’ve sustained a spinal cord injury, you may be eligible for resources and services to offset these costs. For assistance applying for and understanding benefits and finding grants and resources post SCI, contact the free nonprofit SPINALpedia.
If your injury was sustained at the fault of another party, you may be entitled to compensation which can help pay the extensive costs, incurred and ongoing. Keep a detailed record of receipt of care and purchases related to living with SCI. Contact us today to discuss your claim.
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