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Study Estimates Long COVID Economic Burden Above $8 Billion Through 2027
A computational model projects annual U.S. costs between $2 billion and $3.4 billion depending on incidence rates. Productivity losses account for more than 90 percent of the total.
May 26, 5:00 PM·1m read1 source
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A study published in 2025 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases estimated that the total economic burden of long COVID in the United States will likely exceed $8 billion between 2025 and the end of 2027. The model calculated that a single case of long COVID costs between $9,906 and $11,646 per year on average. Productivity losses represent more than 90 percent of these costs.
Researchers used incidence rates between 6 percent and 20 percent of COVID-19 cases. 01 billion. 4 billion. Extending symptom duration to three years at the 6 percent incidence rate produced the $8 billion total for 2025-2027. The authors noted that many individuals who developed long COVID five to six years earlier continue to report symptoms.
The study stated there is currently no cure and treatment focuses on symptom management. It also reported a shortage of specialized long COVID clinics. In 2025 the Department of Health and Human Services closed the Office of Long COVID Research. The National Institutes of Health ended several related funding initiatives the same year.
The authors concluded that without changes in prevention or treatment resources, both the number of cases and associated costs are expected to increase.
