Despite the physical suffering that is associated with migraine pain, the economic consequences of migraines are an important and unappreciated factor as well. With 24 million Americans experiencing migraines, the cost of medical bills and time off from work continue to rise.

The IHS conducted a survey with 648 individuals who suffer from migraine pain. Nearly half of those individuals reported that they had visited an emergency room or urgent care facility within the past year, and over 90% had visited a clinic. Fifteen percent of those who went to an emergency room or urgent care center had done so five or more times in the past year. The costs of these visits, not including the cost of medication or outpatient diagnostic procedures, was over $500,000.¹³

Another study showed that individuals with migraines generated nearly twice as many medical claims and 2.5 times as many pharmacy claims in one HMO (insurance plan).¹⁴ Medical and pharmacy claims costs were $3.4 million in a migraine headache group and $2.1 million in a nonmigraine headache group. Also, people with migraines had significantly higher rates of other illnesses and used more emergency services than people without migraines.

Lost income and work productivity that result from individuals suffering from migraines accompany high medical costs. Of the 648 individuals in the IHS survey, 56% reported missing an average of 2.2 days of work per month because of migraine headaches. Those who continued to work with migraine headaches (approximately one week per month) reported being about half as productive as when they did not have migraines.

The cost to employers that results from lost productivity and sick days was estimated to range from $5.6 to $17.2 billion, depending on estimates of migraine headache prevalence.¹³