Many people never have children or they have only one child because they are worried about the costs of taking care of someone else for the first 18 to 25 years of their child’s life. Now consider raising a child that must live with assistance, possibly for their entire life, because of a serious disability.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a relatively common motor disorder that afflicts about one in every 323 children. It is also an extremely costly disability for the family.
Why is Raising a Child with Cerebral Palsy Expensive?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 58.2 percent of children with CP can walk on their own. This means that 41.8 percent need assistance, possibly for life. A permanent handicap can be costly, as an entire living area, entranceway and vehicle may need to be modified for this child. Many children with CP can grow up to be very intellectually gifted adults, but their physical handicaps could prevent them from finding a job that could help them pay for their medical and day-to-day necessities.
Approximately 41 percent of children with CP also have epilepsy. Nearly 7 percent of children with CP have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is seven times higher than the national average. Over 40 percent of children with CP have intellectual disabilities and 15 percent have visual impairments. You can imagine that the hospital costs will exceed that of an individual without a disability.
How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Child with CP?
The figures listed above, as well as other factors, account for the high financial cost of raising a child with CP. A study involving 2005 Medicaid enrollments found that the medical costs for a child with CP is $16,721 against the $1,675 for a child without a disability. When combined with an intellectual disability, the cost skyrockets to $43,338 vs. $1,674.
If healthcare negligence led to your child’s CP, then you should punish the negligent party so that you can get some financial help in raising your child.
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Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers
