Cerebral Palsy Costs

Fact Checked

Cerebral palsy costs can be very high over a lifetime. If you have a child with cerebral palsy, it is important to learn about the expenses associated with the disorder. They include treatment costs, medicine, therapy, assistive devices, home care, and more.

How Much Does Cerebral Palsy Cost?

According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the “average lifetime costs per person with an intellectual disability were estimated at $1,014,000.” This includes  “$921,000 for persons with cerebral palsy, $383,000 for persons with hearing loss, and $601,000 for persons with vision impairment.”[1]

These are the most recent cost statistics from the government. The nearly $1 million cost of caring for a child with cerebral palsy in 2003 equated to about $1.6 million in 2023.

Parents or guardians of a child with cerebral palsy can expect around $742,326 in indirect medical costs, $93,942 in direct medical expenses, and about $84,732 in direct non-medical costs.

These figures do not represent or include any out-of-pocket expenses that parents or guardians may pay, including lost wages, trips to the emergency room, over-the-counter medications, caregiving expenses, and more.

The above financial figures can fluctuate depending on the severity of the child’s cerebral palsy, insurance reimbursement, and other associated conditions. Unfortunately, these costs will only increase over time.

National Expenses for Cerebral Palsy

The U.S. also pays a significant amount each year to help people living with cerebral palsy. For example, the nation spends around $9.2 billion each year to cover expenses related to early mortality and those with cerebral palsy who cannot work.

Other national expenses include over $1 billion for supplying medications, hospital stays, physician visits, therapies, long-term care, and more. An additional $1.05 billion is spent on educational and home modification expenses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), out of all children who were enrolled in Medicaid in 2005, those with cerebral palsy required the highest expenses.[2]

Medical expenses for children with cerebral palsy are ten times higher when compared to children without the disorder.

What Do Cerebral Palsy Expenses Include?

There are several medical expenses related to treatment for cerebral palsy, depending on the severity and the type of cerebral palsy the child has. The more severe the disorder, the higher the expense.

In general, cerebral palsy expenses can include:

• Payments or copayments for doctor visits
• Medication costs
• Therapy costs (which can consist of physical, occupational, speech, behavioral, and more)
• Surgery expenses (if applicable)
• Hospital costs
• Costs for mobility assistance equipment (walkers, wheelchairs, etc.)
• Home accommodation costs
• Lab and imaging testing costs
• Specialists expenses

Is Cerebral Palsy Covered by Insurance?

If you have private insurance through your employer, some of your child’s medical costs should be covered. Exactly what and how much it covers depends on the policy you have.

Insurance plans may not cover all of the treatments associated with cerebral palsy, especially if they are experimental or considered complementary or alternative therapies.

Financial Assistance to Help With Cerebral Palsy Costs

There are several ways families can obtain financial assistance to help offset the overwhelming costs that come along with caring for a child with cerebral palsy. For instance, there are several types of government assistance options:

• Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Medicaid
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

For more information, refer to our article, Cerebral Palsy Financial Assistance.

Legal Compensation for Cerebral Palsy

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after a birth injury, you might have a case for claiming compensation. Cerebral palsy can result from negligent birth injuries that cause brain damage and resulting disabilities.

The best way to determine if you have a case to sue or seek a settlement for malpractice is to talk to a cerebral palsy or birth injury lawyer. They will review your case at no cost and provide you with options for seeking compensation.