Caring for a Stroke Patient in Korea Can Cost Over 100 Million Won (1000000 dollars): Medical Costs and Financial Burden
- The Financial Burden of Stroke Care
Lee Sang-mi revealed the overwhelming financial strain of caring for her mother, who lacked health insurance.
“After the stroke, I became terrified of missing the golden time,” she said. “So even if my mother showed the slightest symptoms, I rushed her to the hospital right away. Sometimes it was just an overnight stay; other times, she was hospitalized for up to six months.”
She continued, “I always tried to be proactive and get her treated early, but each hospital visit could cost around 10 million won. That became the norm. I even had to borrow money from banks to cover the bills.”
Looking back, Lee estimated, “I probably spent over 100 million won in total—between surgery, rehab hospitals, and nursing care—supporting her for nearly a decade. I didn’t really live for myself at all during those years.”
- The Long Road of Caregiving
Lee personally took care of her mother for over ten years.
“She was paralyzed, so it was very hard for her to move. I had to take her to the hospital in a wheelchair,” she said. “Her speech became slurred, her memory declined. It was very heartbreaking. I was with her 24 hours a day, handling her rehab, even nagging her and pushing her around constantly. I spent all my money taking care of her. Eventually, she passed away despite everything I had done.”
- The Emotional Toll and Warning Signs
“I have a family history of poor vascular health,” Lee shared. “My mother had really weak blood vessels.”
Recalling the early signs, she said, “Before the stroke, she often complained of headaches and dizziness. I assumed it was just aging and didn’t think much of it. But two days later, when we went to a major hospital for a checkup, they told us she had suffered a stroke. I was devastated. I kept thinking, ‘If I had noticed earlier, if I hadn’t been busy filming, maybe we could have caught it in time.’ I cried so much that day.”
Holding back tears, she added, “The aftereffects of a stroke are terrifying. When a person suddenly becomes disabled, it doesn’t just ruin their life, it affects the entire family. It completely changes everything. Your life is over, your family members’ lives are over.”
- A Wake-Up Call for Her Own Health
After learning two years ago that her own vascular health wasn’t good, Lee began taking her health seriously.
“I don’t have anyone to take care of me if I collapse. My mother was lucky that she had a daughter like me. But I don’t have that kind of support system. I don’t have any family members to take care of me, and I can’t afford huge medical bills anymore.”
She added, “That’s why I exercise regularly and watch what I eat. I actually prefer bread over rice, but I’ve even cut back on bread. I just tell myself—there’s no way I can ever afford to have a stroke.”
- A Glimpse into the Story’s Origin
On the April 30 episode of MBN’s “Check Time Again” (한 번 더 체크타임), actress Lee Sang-mi opened up about her mother’s health struggles and the 10 years she spent caring for her after a stroke.
chatgpt added:
Lee’s story reminds us about the importance of early detection and prevention. Stroke symptoms, such as dizziness, numbness, headaches, and slurred speech, should never be ignored. Immediate medical attention during the “golden time” can significantly reduce long-term damage.
Caring for a stroke patient can also be an enormous emotional, physical, and financial burden. It impacts everyone’s life around him, if the stroke lasts for over a few years. Without insurance or outside support, it can consume a person’s savings, time, and even their sense of self.
Maintaining vascular health through regular checkups, a healthy diet and lifestyle, and being aware of family history can make a life-changing difference, not only for the individual, but for their loved ones as well.