Every year, millions of Americans—most of them women—suffer in silence from a disease that is often dismissed as "just a headache." Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, yet it remains profoundly underdiagnosed, underfunded, and stigmatized.
On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, policymakers, clinicians, and advocates will gather on Capitol Hill for a critical event titled “The Price of Pain: The Economic Burden of Migraine on the American Economy” hosted by the Headache and Migraine Policy Forum (HMPF) and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA). This event will bring urgent attention to the staggering financial toll that migraine and headache disorders impose on patients, employers, families, and the healthcare system at large.
Despite affecting more than 39 million Americans, migraine research is drastically underfunded by the National Institutes of Health compared to other diseases with similar prevalence and impact. Misunderstood and trivialized, migraine is not only painful, but also debilitating, often preventing those who suffer from it from working, parenting, or even participating in everyday life.
Migraine is the leading cause of disability for young women, it leads to $78 billion in lost productivity and healthcare costs annually—a number that includes frequent emergency room visits, missed workdays, and reduced workplace performance.
This is not just a health crisis; it is an economic one. There is a growing body of evidence showing that migraine is associated with reduced employment, underemployment, increased sickness absence, and decreased productivity at work. Additionally, migraine can result in long-term disability and early retirement, all of which negatively impact individuals’ participation in the workforce, earning potential, and overall life opportunities.
A national data supplier conducting an analysis in May 2025 estimated the economic consequences of migraine on individuals, as well as its broader implications for the US Government and the overall US economy, finding that a 42-year-old with average-severity migraine would lose over $80,000 in earnings. Over the same 20-to-25-year period, migraine-related impacts would cost the US government, per individual, approximately $35,000 in lost tax revenue and $4,500 in transfer payments (e.g., disability benefits or income support).
And those living with chronic migraine—experiencing severe attacks every other day—could lose nearly $300,000 in earnings over their working lifetime. The impact on the US public economy would also be substantial, with more than $100,000 in lost tax revenue and approximately $20,000 in transfer payments.
The time for change is now, and patients, providers, and policymakers are speaking up.
The June 3rd policy forum will feature remarks from Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA), a champion for patient access—and a panel of experts including Dr. Stephanie Nahas, a leading clinician in headache medicine, and Mikaila Milks, a Pennsylvania patient advocate. The panel will explore the devastating costs of inadequate migraine care and how smart, targeted federal policy could provide real relief.
One such policy solution is already within reach: ensuring migraine screening is included in the annual Well Woman Visit. This change would make migraine detection a routine part of preventive care for millions of women and could drastically improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Further, the soon-to-be-introduced HEADACHE Act by Rep. Trahan is poised to transform how the federal government funds migraine research and supports patients. The Act, which would be the first standalone legislation ever introduced on migraine and headache disorders calls for a national plan to address the migraine and headache disorders through the establishment of the National Headache Disorders Initiative within HHS and calls for:
- Increased NIH funding for headache disorders research
- Education programs for healthcare providers
- Equitable access to treatment and non-discriminatory insurance practices
- Public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma
The June 3rd forum is part of a broader advocacy effort led by the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy that includes a flag installation for Migraine and Headache Awareness Month on the National Mall and a Speak Out for Headache Health press conference on June 4th, where advocates are expected to be joined by actress and migraine advocate Bellamy Young to shine a national spotlight on migraine and call for needed policy action.
We have the data. We have the stories. We have the policy solutions.
It’s time for Congress to prioritize migraine as a national health issue—by funding research, ensuring access to diagnosis and treatment through increased screening, and supporting legislation like the HEADACHE Act. Because the price of pain is too high, and Americans living with migraine have waited too long.
Lindsay Videnieks is Executive Director of The Headache and Migraine Policy Forum. Julienne Verdi is Executive Director of the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy.
