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What is the lifetime cost of care for a spinal cord injury?

On Behalf of | Jul 23, 2019 | Personal Injury

Being released from the hospital and going home can be a big accomplishment after being diagnosed with a spinal cord injury (SPI). However, going home after your injury can get you wondering about your future.

You probably already expect that your injury may affect your mobility, self-sufficiency and daily routines. However, living with an SCI also involves many more expenses than you probably had pre-injury, and these additional expenses may affect your financial health and lifestyle.

How much does it cost to live with a SCI?

Each person’s situation is different. The living expenses associated with this type of injury can vary greatly based on the severity of your injury, your education, your employment history and other factors.

However, in the first year living with a SCI, you might expect to spend between $359,000 and $1,102,000 on health care and living expenses, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). Each subsequent year you may spend between $43,000 and $191,000 on those same expenses.

Over the lifetime of someone who was injured at age 25, health care and living expenses could cost between $1,634,000 and $4,891,000. Someone injured at age 50 might expect a lifetime cost of $1,153,000 to $2,688,000.

These estimates do not include any indirect costs you may experience, such as wage loss. Indirect costs could add over $74,000 each year to your other costs.

Because the costs associated with SCIs are so high, it is important to make sure you are properly compensated if someone else’s reckless or negligent behavior caused your injury. While $1 million may sound like a lot of money now, it is not always enough to cover a lifetime of expenses associated with a serious injury. Receiving fair compensation can help you more comfortably afford the many costs associated with your injury now and throughout your lifetime.

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