Medical Concerns

Medical Concerns

My Dad had a philosophy that you should always buy the best insurance you can get. If you never use it, don't look at it as a waste of money, but instead, a blessing that you didn't have to.

I was so fortunate that my parents had good medical insurance at the time of my injury. The financial burden would have been devastating for them, I'm sure.

Today, with so many people being under insured, or having no health insurance whatsoever, the financial impact is probably even greater. For example:

Length of initial hospitalization following SCI in acute care units: 15 days

Average stay in rehabilitation unit: 44 days

Initial hospitalization costs following SCI: $140,000

Average first year expenses for a SCI (all groups): $198,000

First year expenses for paraplegics: $152,000

First year expenses for quadriplegics: $417,000

Average lifetime costs for paraplegics, age of injury 25: $428,000

Average lifetime costs for quadriplegics, age of injury 25: $1.35 million

Percentage of SCI individuals who are covered by private health insurance at time of injury 52%

I feel extremely fortunate to have received the type of rehabilitation I did following my injury. It was in rehab that I learned, not only what was wrong with me, but more importantly, how to take care of myself and live with my newfound lifestyle. This is the key component that has allowed me to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle for over 30 years.

The need for everyone to have comprehensive medical insurance today is underscored by the fact that, with the advancement of medicine and the profound changes taking place technologically in our world, people sustaining serious spinal cord injuries are not only surviving, but living long, healthy lives. Unfortunately, far too many people are under insured or have no insurance. If they do sustain a spinal cord injury, oftentimes they are treated only for the acute stages; that is, until they are medically stable.

Thrust back into the world without having the knowledge necessary to take care of themselves, much less having time to psychologically adjust, many people sustaining spinal cord injuries today, fight unnecessarily with frequent medical or psychological issues. As a result, the financial burden continues to elevate, not only for them personally, but our society as a whole.

My inpatient rehabilitation lasted for over seven months. It was there that my family and I learned, not only the importance of self-care, but also the skills it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle after spinal cord injury. Although the adjusting and learning continues throughout your life, it is the successes during this critical phase of rehabilitation that will, in the long run, reduce long-term medical costs resulting from spinal cord injury.

I am so grateful for my father’s philosophy on insurance because I would undoubtedly not be where I am today, ALIVE and SUCCESSFUL!




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Life as a Quad Medical Concerns Attendant Care Management A Support Network		Medical Concerns My Dad had a philosophy that you should always buy the best insurance you can get. If you never use it, don't look at it as a waste of money, but instead, a blessing that you didn't have to. I was so fortunate that my parents had good medical insurance at the time of my injury. The financial burden would have been devastating for them, I'm sure. Today, with so many people being under insured, or having no health insurance whatsoever, the financial impact is probably even greater. For example: Length of initial hospitalization following SCI in acute care units: 15 days Average stay in rehabilitation unit: 44 days Initial hospitalization costs following SCI: $140,000 Average first year expenses for a SCI (all groups): $198,000 First year expenses for paraplegics: $152,000 First year expenses for quadriplegics: $417,000 Average lifetime costs for paraplegics, age of injury 25: $428,000 Average lifetime costs for quadriplegics, age of injury 25: $1.35 million Percentage of SCI individuals who are covered by private health insurance at time of injury 52% I feel extremely fortunate to have received the type of rehabilitation I did following my injury. It was in rehab that I learned, not only what was wrong with me, but more importantly, how to take care of myself and live with my newfound lifestyle. This is the key component that has allowed me to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle for over 30 years. The need for everyone to have comprehensive medical insurance today is underscored by the fact that, with the advancement of medicine and the profound changes taking place technologically in our world, people sustaining serious spinal cord injuries are not only surviving, but living long, healthy lives. Unfortunately, far too many people are under insured or have no insurance. If they do sustain a spinal cord injury, oftentimes they are treated only for the acute stages; that is, until they are medically stable. Thrust back into the world without having the knowledge necessary to take care of themselves, much less having time to psychologically adjust, many people sustaining spinal cord injuries today, fight unnecessarily with frequent medical or psychological issues. As a result, the financial burden continues to elevate, not only for them personally, but our society as a whole. My inpatient rehabilitation lasted for over seven months. It was there that my family and I learned, not only the importance of self-care, but also the skills it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle after spinal cord injury. Although the adjusting and learning continues throughout your life, it is the successes during this critical phase of rehabilitation that will, in the long run, reduce long-term medical costs resulting from spinal cord injury. I am so grateful for my father’s philosophy on insurance because I would undoubtedly not be where I am today, ALIVE and SUCCESSFUL!