Paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia) is a permanent loss of muscle function usually caused by spinal cord injury. Paraplegia is paralysis of the lower half of the body, including both legs; quadriplegia affects all four limbs. Approximately 11,000 Americans suffer spine injuries each year; 52% are considered paraplegic while 47% are quadriplegic. 82% of spine injury victims are male, and the average patient age is 31.  According to The University of Alabama National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average lifetime cost for a paraplegic injured at age 25 is $428,000, while a similar quadriplegic will spend about $1.35 million on treatment and living expenses. (1) (2)

If you feel that you may be at risk for spine injury (particularly if you are involved in an active or strenuous profession or hobby) you should consider taking out a critical illness insurance policy to protect yourself from the financial toll of paralysis. Critical illness insurance provides funds for medical expenses that standard health insurance often does not cover.

Depending on the extent of their paralysis, paraplegics or quadriplegics may be able to retain some degree of normal functionality. Generally these conditions require wheelchairs, therapy and extensive lifestyle modification; paralysis victims typically experience some degree of urinary and fecal incontinence, requiring catheters or an artificial bowel management program. Other causes of paralysis include strokes, nerve diseases  (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or autoimmune diseases (Guillain-Barre syndrome).

Complications of paralysis may include pressure sores, pneumonia and thrombosis. In addition, nerve-related complications (chronic nerve pain in areas surrounding the injury) are common. Physiotherapy and assistive technology can help to lessen complications of paraplegia and quadriplegia. (3)

Though standard medical insurance often does not cover paralysis, a critical illness insurance policy can protect you from the financial aftereffects of quadriplegia or paraplegia. critical illness insurance pays a lump benefit sum on first diagnosis of paraplegia, allowing you to pay for the treatments or living arrangements you need most. Contact CancerPlans.com to find the critical illness insurance plan that’s right for you.

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(1) MedlinePlus. June 28 2012. US. National Library of Medicine. July 13 2012. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003190.htm

(2) Spinal Cord Injury Facts & Statistics. February 14 2012. SCI Info Pages. July 13 2012. http://www.sci-info-pages.com/facts.html

(3) What is Paraplegia? 2009. Spinal Injury Network. July 13 2012. http://www.spinal-injury.net/paraplegia.htm