Concussions that result from incidents other than sports can have life-changing consequences. These don’t always resolve after a few weeks or months. They may extend for years. This can result in great income loss to individuals, which also impacts families. There’s an easy way to calculate the impact. Use these simple calculations below to get an idea of the magnitude of monetary loss that can result from a concussion.

Calculation

Basic calculations: estimate ten-year income

• Current gross annual salary x 10
• Current year contributions to 401k or other retirement funds x 10
• Employer match contributions to retirement funds x 10
• Interest on retirement funds cut off today vs. 10 additional years of funding
• Annual amount paid by employer for health insurance (see W2) x 10
• Estimated amount applied to social security benefits (for US citizens) x 10

Additional calculations:

• Expected cost of living wage increases based on current salary x 10
• Current salary rate for a senior level position in your field (or other potential promotion) x 10

General Effect

Income and benefit loss leads to secondary loss. Think of all of your family or individual activities. All those things that go beyond basics such as groceries, clothing, and monthly expenses become luxuries. Travel and family trips might be affected. Funding for extracurricular activities might be impacted. You might not be able to replace an aging vehicle or might have to delay household repairs. Perhaps you’d have to move. Medical care might also become a luxury. These are just a few examples I can think of. Basically, anything you can imagine could potentially be affected for an extended period.

I experienced income loss due to my most recent concussion. No doubt, I’m not the only non-sports concussee who has experienced an impact on income and benefits. Such loss affects individuals and families. Yet the focus in the concussion realm has primarily been on sports. As I’ve been saying for years (and others as well), that needs to change. I’d like to assume it will at some point, but I’m not optimistic about that. I can think of no other medical issue that has such a distinct dividing line for treatment and research.

In the meantime, for a brief moment, walk in a non-sports concussee’s shoes. Assume that insurance benefits would be denied. That is due for several reasons. There has long been a lack of adequate tests available to identify issues resulting from a concussion. Also, there’s been a focus on imaging tests (CT scans and MRIs) that are known not to always show concussion issues. In addition, the focus has been on supposed psychological issues instead of physical causes. The lack of medical care options is staggering.

Calculate for yourself what you would lose over a ten-year period, and then until age 65. Think about how it might affect your family and your retirement. Then hope that no such event propels you into such a situation. Take precautions to prevent accidents, falls, and other non-sports causes of concussion. You do not want to have to embark on this journey.