Lyme Disease Cases Can Cost $6,833

A new large-scale study analyzing healthcare claims data from 2016 to 2022 has revealed that Lyme disease (LD) imposes a substantial economic burden, with direct medical costs significantly higher for patients with disseminated disease compared to those with localized infections.

This new research, published in JAMA Network Open on January 14, 2026, identified over 70,000 Lyme disease cases and employed multiple analytical approaches to estimate costs, all adjusted to 2022 dollars.

Key findings highlight the mean LD-specific direct medical cost per episode at $2,227.

Furthermore, costs varied dramatically by disease stage:

• Localized, early-stage disease: $695 per episode compared with $695,
• Disseminated disease: $6,833 per episode,
• In a self-control approach, patients incurred an average of $3,304 higher all-cause costs in the 6 months following diagnosis than in the prior 6 months,
• Case-control comparisons showed differences ranging from $4,098 to $5,571 in projected 6-month total all-cause costs after multivariable adjustment for baseline characteristics.

According to these researchers, these estimates were generally higher than those from prior studies, potentially due to longer episode durations allowed in this analysis, the use of standardized insurance-allowed amounts, and inclusion of diverse insurance types and all age groups.

These findings emphasize the need for enhanced prevention strategies, prompt diagnosis, and awareness to mitigate escalating healthcare expenditures. Early intervention could substantially reduce the disproportionate costs driven by disseminated disease, these researchers added.

The U.S. CDC says Lyme disease remains the most common vector-borne illness in the United States, with an estimated 476,000 people diagnosed and treated annually. In 2025, most LD cases were reported in the northern states in the east and the Midwest.

From a disease prevention option, one Lyme disease vaccine candidate (VLA15) is progressing in phase 3 clinical trials. However, the approval date for this innovative vaccine has not yet been announced.