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The $20,181 Cost of Living With an Autoimmune Disease -Popsugar
https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/UoS8h8ycRhs_LFL1rC3hj2bNU5c=/fit-in/1584x1088/top/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2025/03/28/880/n/49351082/tmp_bWDTVu_04b9964192a0c725_PS24_11_ShowTheReceipts_AutoimmuneDisease_Main_1456x1000.jpgMost 25-year-olds don't expect to become bedridden in the middle of New York, but life had other plans for Ellen Rudolph. "I was experiencing a whole host of really strange, debilitating symptoms," she tells PS, recounting brain fog, joint pain, and debilitating fatigue that started in 2018. "I was having tremors, memory loss, all kinds of things that just weren't really normal for someone in their mid-20s."
With her quality of life suddenly flipped on its head, all Rudolph wanted was answers, but she soon discovered that those come at a price. She spent the next several months in and out of the ER, frequenting Urgent Care, and bouncing between specialists. Then, in 2020, Rudolph learned she had a positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) — a major sign of an autoimmune disease. The news felt validating, but her journey was far from over.
Diagnosis may offer important clarity and closure (especially where treatment is concerned), but it doesn't necessarily alleviate the physical, mental, and financial toll of an autoimmune condition. Because insurance typically only covers the bare minimum when it comes to treatment, people are often left financially vulnerable during their toughest moments.
For Rudolph, being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease meant she'd have to reclaim her health with the help of a functional medicine doctor, frequent labs, monthly acupuncture, and regular doctor's appointments. That's not to mention mental healthcare or preventative services like full-body MRIs, all of which cost a pretty penny. So, five years post-diagnosis, how much does Rudolph's autoimmune condition continue to cost her? Here's the full cost breakdown.
With her quality of life suddenly flipped on its head, all Rudolph wanted was answers, but she soon discovered that those come at a price. She spent the next several months in and out of the ER, frequenting Urgent Care, and bouncing between specialists. Then, in 2020, Rudolph learned she had a positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) — a major sign of an autoimmune disease. The news felt validating, but her journey was far from over.
Diagnosis may offer important clarity and closure (especially where treatment is concerned), but it doesn't necessarily alleviate the physical, mental, and financial toll of an autoimmune condition. Because insurance typically only covers the bare minimum when it comes to treatment, people are often left financially vulnerable during their toughest moments.
For Rudolph, being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease meant she'd have to reclaim her health with the help of a functional medicine doctor, frequent labs, monthly acupuncture, and regular doctor's appointments. That's not to mention mental healthcare or preventative services like full-body MRIs, all of which cost a pretty penny. So, five years post-diagnosis, how much does Rudolph's autoimmune condition continue to cost her? Here's the full cost breakdown.
https://www.popsugar.com/health/autoimmune-disease-cost-receipts-49435792