A recent Canadian study found that the average financial cost of a stroke during the first 6 months is approximately $50,000. The study found that health-care covered around 80% of the costs, leaving the families to cover the additional 20%.
Most of the health-care costs related to hospitalization, whereas the remaining 20% related to lost time from jobs and expenses for the families.
Every year, 50,000 Canadians suffer a stroke and require treatment, which works out to an cost of more than $2.5 Billion each year.
The study examined 12 hospitals across the country, from Halifax to Vancouver, and tracked 232 patients during their stay in the hospital and after they returned home. Tracked costs included:
- appointments
- medications
- purchase of assistive devices like canes or wheelchairs
- home accessibility modifications such as ramps
- caregiver time away from a job
You can read more about the study here.