A study has estimated the economic cost of food allergies at $24.8 billion/year in the US, about 17% of it being borne by the health care industry and the rest by families. The cost to families includes both out-of-pocket costs (medication, doctor’s visits, specialized food, etc.) and opportunity costs in lost work productivity and, in some cases, lost job opportunities where a parent has to alter or give up a job to provide extra care.
Short article: Food Allergy’s Economic Burden on Families: $3,500 a Year (Allergic Living)
Longer article for those less familiar with what it takes to manage a severe allergy: What Food Allergies Are Costing Families and the Economy (Time)