11 replies to this topic

[jscott92064]

Hello all:

Has anyone ever tried or has access to a formula for calculating the additional cost of living increases due to SCI?

I'm not talking about health care costs.

I'm talking about the extras to pay for - say in having to modify a house each time you move, paying more for a hotel and/or rental equipment costs when traveling, paying for air conditioning and/or extra heating due to Autonomic Dysreflexia?

-Having to pay extra for equipment --in my husband's case, he thought about getting his pilot's license and it turns out he would have to pay an additional fee each time hand-controls were put on the plane.

-Having to pay for household maintenance where as before you could do it yourself?

-Having to pay additional fuel costs because you have to have a larger vehicle for transport? (There's more examples - I'm sure I haven't listed them all --would love to hear your thoughts.)

Is there a way to quantify all this?

Any direction or guidance in this area would be helpful. Christopher Reeve Foundation is looking into this for me,but I don't get a sense they have been asked this type of question before. I am trying to speak with the National Spinal Cord Statistic Center, but it looks like they only track health-related expenses.

Thanks so much!

[Smileyblue]

Have you spoken to an actuary? I know here they are responsible for calculating these sort of things for the Road Accident Fund.. Perhaps they have more info for you..

[jscott92064]

Smileyblue, on 28 July 2011 - 02:58 PM, said:

Have you spoken to an actuary? I know here they are responsible for calculating these sort of things for the Road Accident Fund.. Perhaps they have more info for you..

Thanks - that looks like an interesting route to try. When I asked the Christopher Reeve Foundation, they were a bit stumped by the question. Guess no one has thought about separating cost-of-living versus health care and there is a difference, in my opinion.

There seems to be a real economic impact from being in a wheelchair--outside of health care costs.

Will be very interesting to see if that can be quantified.

Edited by jscott92064, 28 July 2011 - 03:17 PM.

[Soryfam]

Generally the only cost of living increases we get are based on the economy. The last two years we didn't receive anything, although Obama threw us a bone or two with some $250 checks. It's hard to say if we'll get an increase this coming year. There might be other programs or grants, or private agencies that cam help with some of your needs, but I don't think it will be coming from your monthly SS payment. (Sorry)


Sandy

[jscott92064]

Soryfam, on 28 July 2011 - 03:28 PM, said:

Generally the only cost of living increases we get are based on the economy. The last two years we didn't receive anything, although Obama threw us a bone or two with some $250 checks. It's hard to say if we'll get an increase this coming year. There might be other programs or grants, or private agencies that cam help with some of your needs, but I don't think it will be coming from your monthly SS payment. (Sorry)


Sandy

That's cost of living for income --i.e. social security disability amount is based on income received prior to the disability. And i'm sure there's a formula for determining cost of living across the board as it relates to income. And income raises usually are related to the basics -right - food, housing, clothing, but I don't think it takes into account the specific econnomic impacts of SCI.

The economic impact I am talking about is different. Don't you feel like you pay more in the way of choices you have for travel, housing, where you can live, and how you live based on being in a wheelchair?

If you have AD, you must pay for air conditioning --again, an economic impact.

My husband had the ability to do most household maintenance --i.e. appliance repair, lawn care, etc. --another economic impact. The choices he needs in furniture, etc., all are limited because of the wheelchair --again another economic impact.....

All these things add up.

Edited by jscott92064, 28 July 2011 - 03:51 PM.

[BillS]

But we all save a lot of money on shoes!!!!

Actually I have thought the same thoughts as you have. I've never totaled it up but I'm sure I spend more on general day to day expenditures because of my SCI.

Are you just curious about this or do you have a specific reason for knowing this?

[wheeliebear75]

I get what you're saying you want a mathematical equation to how much extra $ goes to SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric for you non-San Diegans), vans don't get the same fuel efficiency that a Prius does but then there's NO space for things like a wheelchair, and having to arrive the day BEFORE your vacation FUN is to start to allow the person to rest from the trip itself.....I get the WHAT....but like others I'm curious as to what's up with the WHY.

When I was in school everyone ELSE could get a Double Big Gulp from 7-11....I had to buy a quick slam out of the machines at school....hence paying 2x as much $ to get 1/3 of the soda.

Sharp has a # of after-care programs.....including hand-controls driving maybe they'd know?

Oh by the way.....did you know about the program that SDG&E has for those who use medical/health equipment that requires power? If your hubby uses an electric power wheelchair, hospital or other type of positioning bed, or Hoyer lift?

[jscott92064]

BillS, on 28 July 2011 - 04:01 PM, said:

But we all save a lot of money on shoes!!!!

Actually I have thought the same thoughts as you have. I've never totaled it up but I'm sure I spend more on general day to day expenditures because of my SCI.

Are you just curious about this or do you have a specific reason for knowing this?

I have a specific reason for knowing this, but cannot share the details with you at this time.

Another analogy I use is this --if I go to Disneyland, for the price of my ticket, I can go on all the rides and access everything. But in a wheelchair, I cannot. Doesn't SCI diminish my purchasing power?

I can go to a hotel and swim in the pool - no problem. But most likely they do not have a pool lift, so my husband cannot access the pool. Doesn't that situation diminish his purchasing power and choice?

[jscott92064]

wheeliebear75, on 28 July 2011 - 05:25 PM, said:

I get what you're saying you want a mathematical equation to how much extra $ goes to SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric for you non-San Diegans), vans don't get the same fuel efficiency that a Prius does but then there's NO space for things like a wheelchair, and having to arrive the day BEFORE your vacation FUN is to start to allow the person to rest from the trip itself.....I get the WHAT....but like others I'm curious as to what's up with the WHY.

When I was in school everyone ELSE could get a Double Big Gulp from 7-11....I had to buy a quick slam out of the machines at school....hence paying 2x as much $ to get 1/3 of the soda.

Sharp has a # of after-care programs.....including hand-controls driving maybe they'd know?

Oh by the way.....did you know about the program that SDG&E has for those who use medical/health equipment that requires power? If your hubby uses an electric power wheelchair, hospital or other type of positioning bed, or Hoyer lift?

Under MICRA, there is a cap on non-economic damages one can recover. Non-economic damages equate to "pain and suffering". There is an unlimited amount on what one can recover for economic damages.

(Calfornia's Medical Injury Compensation Reforma Act (MICRA)


(Yes, we have the SDGE program.....)


Thanks to everyone for their feedback. This is a tough one - even Christopher Reeves Foundation didn't have the answer, but were intrigued by the question.

Edited by jscott92064, 28 July 2011 - 09:46 PM.

[Hikkakaru]

Jscott ,
The FAA requires all pilots to have accessories or replacement parts installed by an FAA certified tech in the states, so the additional costs with the hand controls is sort of unavoidable. Not a paralyzed thing per se, its an annoyance (and safety boon) for all pilots trying to modify their planes.

[jscott92064]

Hikkakaru, on 28 July 2011 - 09:55 PM, said:

Jscott ,
The FAA requires all pilots to have accessories or replacement parts installed by an FAA certified tech in the states, so the additional costs with the hand controls is sort of unavoidable. Not a paralyzed thing per se, its an annoyance (and safety boon) for all pilots trying to modify their planes.

I should explain that situation further regarding the plane. (I'm in the aviation industry too.)

You can have a plane with hand controls permanently installed or the FAA can approve your process to install them temporarily and remove the hand controls temporarily.

When you are renting the plane, they want to do the temporary install at the beginning and then the removal at the end. This isn't the issue and that seems fair as there are labor costs to do this. The rip-off part comes when, because they have a captive customer, they want to charge you extra every hour for the hand controls are on the plane.

I found an economist to help with the quantifying. It will take a while to come up with these costs. If anyone is interested in what I find out, please let me know.

[Smileyblue]

It would definitely interest me, and I'm sure many others.. Thanks for keeping us posted and for bringing this topic up in the first place..