The Cost of Care for Brain Injury

The economic cost of traumatic brain injury can be both overwhelming and devastating. Costs can include the medical bills for acute care at a hospital, the cost of routine imaging studies including CT Scans and MRI, the cost of physicians, rehabilitations, neuropsychological evaluations, and non-medical supportive care. In the context of a personal injury claim, it is extraordinarily rare for the responsible party's insurance company to pay any expenses for health care until such time as the case is resolved on a final and global basis. For any patient with a traumatic brain injury a global settlement should be based upon a thorough life care plan that contemplates all anticipated expenses for the balance of a patient's lifetime.

If a patient has medical insurance, many health care costs may be covered or reimbursed during the pendency of a claim. However, insurance will rarely pay for in-home supportive care, institutionalization, group homes or even adult day care. If eligible for state subsidization through Medicaid, a patient residing in Connecticut can apply for additional subsidy via an Acquired Brain Injury ("ABI") Waiver through the Connecticut Department of Social Services. This Waiver program does not apply to patients with either developmental or degenerative disorders. It is a patient centered program that provides a range of home and community based supportive services for adults who would otherwise require some degree of institutionalization. More information about the Connecticut Department of Social Services' ("DSS") Acquired Brain Injury Waiver program can be found in the DSS Brochure.