US $8 Billion Long COVID Burden
Analysis based on 6 articles · First reported May 21, 2026 · Last updated May 24, 2026
The estimated $8 billion economic burden of long COVID on the United States, primarily from lost productivity, will negatively impact employers across various industries. The lack of government strategy and funding cuts for research and treatment clinics suggest a worsening situation, potentially increasing healthcare costs and reducing workforce participation, which could weigh on economic growth.
A study published in 2025 in the Emerging Infectious Diseases, co-authored by Bruce Y. Lee and Hannah Dimmick, estimates that the total economic burden of long COVID on the United States will exceed $8 billion between 2025 and 2027. This burden is largely due to lost work productivity and healthcare costs, with a single case costing between $9,906 and $11,646 annually. The United States faces challenges in managing long COVID due to a severe shortage of treatment clinics, lack of effective cures, and an unclear national strategy. Furthermore, in 2025, the United States — United States Department of Health and Human Services shuttered its Office of Long COVID Research, and the United States — National Institutes of Health terminated funding initiatives for long COVID studies, exacerbated by funding cuts during President Donald Trump's second term. These factors suggest that the number of people with long COVID and its associated costs are likely to grow.
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