When we think of MS, we think of the physical and mental impact of the illness. Yet for many MS patients across the US, the financial strain can often be a heavy burden to carry.

The US spends around $28 billion per year on MS. This hits home when you think of the individual person diagnosed with MS because the lifetime cost for patients is estimated at $4 million. 

So, why is the financial burden of suffering from MS so heavy? Each person with MS is unique, and the disease affects them differently when it comes to progression, symptoms, and financial strains.

1. Loss of income

When you suffer from the varying and often debilitating range of symptoms that affect MS patients you understand that carrying on with your work is often very challenging. For some, periods of remission and regression (depending on your diagnosis) mean that there may be days where your balance, pain, and energy levels vary. 

When productivity and work are affected, so is your level of income. 

2. Cost of treatments

Drug treatments can help with symptoms, reduce relapses, and slow progression – however, they come at a high price. In fact, the cost of these drugs has risen sharply in recent years.

Because MS is a chronic disease with no cure, the cost of prescription drugs over a lifetime stacks up. 

3. Medical and therapy bills

The costs of physicians, scans, specialists and medical tests are an expense that adds up over the years for MS patients.

Disease-modifying therapies have been estimated at $70,000 per year and these include physical therapy and speech therapy. 

4. Rehabilitation

There are helpful supports available to MS sufferers that can improve their quality of life such as home help, rehabilitation, and home or auto modifications, but they don’t come cheap. Assistive technologies include adaptive utensils, orthotic devices, mobility aids, and voice recognition programs.  

Helping you to carry the load

It’s no wonder that MS patients struggle to cope with the financial costs of MS. For many, it can feel overwhelming. Instead of concentrating on their well-being, they spend time worrying about how they’re going to cover the costs.

Plenty of MS patients have no private insurance such as Medicare, and those who do find that although much of their MS care is covered, there are still out-of-pocket costs or deductible amounts. Many make sacrifices in other areas of their life, and some cut corners in their medical care to make money-saving compromises. 

Now, you may remember that we told you about Christine whose sister Kelly-Ann and brother-in-law Jim set up MS Happens after watching her struggle with not only the medical impact but the financial burden of MS. They saw the toll that MS took on Christine’s physical and financial health and decided to help carry the load.

If you find that the financial burden of MS is too heavy a load to carry, please know that you are not alone. We understand the stress that financial worry adds to a person.

MS Happens not only raises awareness of the disease but also provides financial assistance to patients and their families in the Tampa Bay area. Our goal is to help MS patients with funds to cover medication bills, physician fees, and to offer local support. 

Tell us about your MS journey. Get involved, reach out on our Facebook page or email [email protected]