On average, survivors of spinal cord injury spend 15 days in the hospital and 44 days in rehabilitation. The first-year cost associated with paraplegia is $152,000, while the first-year cost associated with quadriplegia is $417,000. About 52% of spinal cord injury survivors are covered by private health insurance at the time of injury. And even those 52% will most often find that their insurance has a limit. Luckily, there is health insurance designed to fill in the gaps.
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare offers healthcare benefits—both hospital insurance and medical insurance—to disabled people under the age of 65. Both programs are designed to help people with disabilities meet their financial obligations. Medicare covers people with disabilities under the age of 65, while Medicaid is a program designed to meet the needs of low-income people.
Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income gives provides supplemental income to those with disabilities under the age of 65. Benefits include paid Medicare premiums, and in most states Medicaid coverage for hospital stays, doctor bills, prescription drugs, and additional health care costs.