The Financial Impact of Genital Herpes: Beyond Medical Costs
How much does herpes cost across a lifetime? While I often speak to the psychological effects of living with herpes, rarely do we discuss the financial aspects.
Eppink, Kumar, Miele, & Chesson (2021) were determined to find out. Using medical data claims from 2010-2018, Eppink et al. (2021) created their cohort from the point of initial diagnosis.
Eppink et al. (2021) included cost of the initial diagnosis, related visits, and medication during three years after diagnosis. This data set the precedent for estimates of medication throughout one’s lifetime.
In 2019 monetary figures, researchers concluded that genital herpes costs $972 per treated case and $165 per infection. These do not include costs associated with preventing and/or treating neonatal herpes.
The financial impact breakdown:
27%: the initial diagnostic visit
13%: clinical visits after initial diagnosis
60%: medications
For many, this number might appear smaller than expected. Or even affordable. But when I look at this breakdown, and the overall financial impact, I ask not only about affordability, but accessibility. Who and which populations are at an advantage? And with such a stigma, what costs are not being considered (i.e. mental health supports)?