Finding Financial Assistance for Spinal Cord Injury

Costs Associated with a Spinal Cord Injury

As an NSCISC data sheet shows, spinal cord injury will cost between $460,000 and over $1.4 million during the first year after injury on average. Every subsequent year, the cost will typically average between $55,900 and over $244,000.

If you are injured at age 25, you can anticipate the lifetime cost of SCI to exceed $2 million and reach over $6 million for some levels of injury. If you’re injured at age 50, that lifetime cost will range between $1.4 million and over $3.4 million.

Keep in mind that these estimates do not include indirect costs such as losses in wages and employment changes. Those indirect costs averaged $95,309 per year in 2024.

Common Out-of-Pocket Spinal Cord Injury Costs

There are dozens of diverse expenses that play a role in everyday life for an SCI survivor, their caregiver, and their family. Here are some of the most common costs that individuals with SCI face – many of which are not fully covered by insurance:

• Health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-payments
• Medications
• Medical travel expenses for therapy or treatment
• Relocation or moving expenses due to diagnosis (such as in the case of moving to be closer to a therapy center or hospital for treatment)
• Temporary housing due to medical relocation
• Mileage, tolls, and parking fees for visits to therapy center or hospital
• Specially equipped vans, specialized wheelchairs, and durable medical equipment
• Home modifications for accessibility
• Home health care services and caregiving
• Activity-based therapy and rehabilitation
• Assistive technology 
• Experimental treatments

Finding Financial Help for SCI

Fundraising offers hope to individuals living with a spinal cord injury. As a trusted national nonprofit, Help Hope Live is dedicated to helping individuals address the staggering costs associated with spinal cord injury through caring and compassionate community-based fundraising.

How Does Fundraising for Spinal Cord Injuries Work?

Fundraising with our nonprofit works as follows:

1. Submit a campaign request for assistance at helphopelive.org/get-started/apply
2. You’ll be paired with a Client Services Coordinator
3. Your Coordinator will provide you with one-on-one fundraising help, including personalized fundraising materials and guidance on how to rally your community, share your story on social media, reach out to the press, plan in-person or virtual fundraising events, and much more