Industry News

Long COVID Could Cost the Economy $3.7 Trillion

UPDATED ON
January 5, 2023
Abbey Dean
Abbey Dean
— Written By
Print Friendly and PDF

CNBC recently reported that long COVID-19 or long COVID, a term used for long-term effects of COVID-19, could cost the U.S. economy a whopping $3.7 trillion.  

David Cutler, an economist at Harvard University, told CNBC that the $3.7 trillion estimate, or about 17% of the nation’s pre-pandemic output, was based on his past research of chronic fatigue syndrome, which closely resembles the symptoms and treatment of COVID-19.  

Cutler’s overall cost calculation takes into account factors such as a decreased quality of life, lower income, and increased patient medical bills. He also estimates that individual costs could vary between $3,700 and $14,00 per person, or about $9,000 apiece on average.  

According to CNBC, more than 23 million Americans have already contracted long COVID. What’s more, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that as many as a quarter of all long COVID patients are out of work.  

Looking for more exclusive content? See what’s trending on the Mployer Advisor blog.  

Want more insights on how your employee benefits compare to companies in your region, industry, and similar employer size?
Download Your Custom Benefits Report Now
See How Your Employee Benefits Compare

Next Up

Federal Court Ruling May Put Millions of US Companies In Breach of ERISA Fiduciary Duty
A Texas court ruled that American Airlines breached its ERISA duty of loyalty by failing to properly oversee BlackRock’s ESG-driven investment decisions. The decision could put millions of employers at legal risk if upheld. Are ESG investments in retirement plans now a liability?
The Employment Situation for February 2025
The latest economic release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the U.S. job market added just under 150 thousand jobs last month while unemployment ticked down one-tenth of a point to 4% to close out the last such economic report with data collected under the Biden administration.
Are Centers of Excellence On the Decline?
Centers of Excellence (COEs) may have peaked. While mid-sized employers increased adoption, the largest companies are scaling back. Is this a temporary dip or a shift in employer healthcare strategy?