| We're about to enter the fourth calendar year of the coronavirus outbreak. Researchers think most Americans have had Covid-19 at this point — and for some, that initial infection has led to a chronic condition known as long Covid.
Up to 30% of Americans who get Covid-19 have developed long-haul symptoms, affecting as many as 23 million Americans, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Long Covid will be around long after the pandemic subsides, impacting our communities, our health care system, our economy and the well-being of future generations," the agency notes.
That spells trouble for Americans' personal finances and the economy at large.
Symptoms can be debilitating, triggering expensive medical bills and limiting patients' ability to work. Medical experts have called long Covid "the next public health disaster in the making," and one Harvard University economist projects it could create a $3.7 trillion drag on the U.S. economy.
That's why the Personal Finance team has launched a special report examining long Covid's destructive financial impact on individuals, families and the U.S. economy. You can read reporter Greg Iacurci's introduction to the series below. Visit the Your Health, Your Money section to for more installments, including personal stories of how long Covid patients have navigated financial challenges related to the condition.
For more advice to help you make smart financial decisions, check out CNBC's Financial Advisor Hub and Personal Finance section. |
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