Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 

Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality

STATISTICAL BRIEF #115 

February 2006 

Health Service Use and Expenses for 

Migraines and Other Headaches, 

2002–03 (Average Annual Estimates) 

Highlights 

 In 2002–03, an annual 

average of 3.5 percent of 

adults had ambulatory care 

visits and/or prescribed 

medicine purchases to 

treat migraines and/or 

other types of headaches. 

Among these persons, the 

average annual expenditure for these services was 

$566 (in 2003 dollars). 

 The median expense per 

year for treatment of headaches was about 40 percent higher for migraines 

than for other headaches. 

 Persons age 65 and over 

were less likely than 

younger adults, and 

females were more likely 

than males, to have treatment for a migraine or 

other headache. 

 Among adults who 

received treatment for 

migraines or other headaches, an annual average 

of 15.1 percent of all their 

expenditures for ambulatory care and prescribed 

medicines was for treatment of these conditions. 

Steven R. Machlin, MS and G. Edward Miller, PhD 

Introduction 

Migraines and other headaches are common conditions among U.S. 

adults. For some, headaches can be treated using over-the-counter 

drugs, rest, and other means that do not require the involvement of 

health professionals. For others, however, substantial medical 

expenses are incurred from ambulatory visits to a physician or other 

health provider and the use of analgesics and other types of prescribed medications to treat headaches. Total expenditures for these 

services for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population averaged

$4.3 billion per year in 2002–03, with approximately 60 percent of the

total for ambulatory visits and 40 percent for prescribed medicines.

This Statistical Brief presents estimates based on data from the 

Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 

(MEPS-HC) on health care use and expenditures to treat headaches 

among adults age 18 and over in the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized 

population. Estimates include use and expenditures for ambulatory 

care services (including office-based, hospital outpatient, and 

emergency room settings) and prescribed medicines because these 

are the MEPS service categories that are most relevant to headache 

treatment.* Average annual estimates for the period from 2002–03 

are shown for two categories of headaches: migraines and other 

headaches (facial pain, nonspecific reported pain in head, and 

tension headaches) as well as by age and sex. Data for two years 

were combined to improve the precision of the estimates, and 

expenditure data for 2002 were Consumer Price Index-adjusted to 

2003 dollars. All differences between estimates noted in the text are 

statistically significant at the 0.05 level or better. 

Findings

Health service use by type of headache

During 2002–03, an annual average of 3.5 percent of adults (about 7.5 million per year) were reported to 

have had an ambulatory care visit and/or a prescribed medicine purchase during the year to treat a migraine 

and/or other type of headache (figure 1), with a slightly higher percentage of adults having treatment for a 

migraine (1.9 percent) than for other types of headaches (1.6 percent). 

* Purchases of over-the-counter medications are not recorded in the MEPS, and inpatient hospital and home health care services 

were rarely used in the treatment of headaches.
Health service expenditures by type of headache 

In 2002–03, adults with ambulatory care and/or a prescribed medicine to treat migraines or other 

headaches had average annual expenditures of $566 for these services (figure 2). Since persons with the 

highest expenses have a disproportionate impact on the average, the median annual expense of $212 

per user was substantially lower than the per user average. 

Among those with ambulatory visits and/or prescribed medicine purchases to treat headaches in 2002–

03, the median expense per year was about 40 percent higher for persons with migraines than for 

persons with other headaches ($243 versus $172). However, the difference in average expenses 

between the two headache categories was not significantly different ($577 versus $530). 

Health service use and expenditures for headaches by age and sex 

The percentage of persons with reported treatment for a migraine or other headache varies by age and 

sex (figure 3). Adults ages 45–64 were the most likely (4.5 percent) and adults 65 and older were the 

least likely (1.9 percent) to have treatment for migraines and other headaches. The percentage of young 

adults reporting treatment (3.4 percent) fell in between the other two age categories. Further, adult 

females were more than three times as likely as adult males to be treated for a migraine or other 

headache (5.3 versus 1.6 percent). Among adults with reported treatment for headaches, however, there 

were no significant differences by age or sex in the average or median annual expenditures for 

ambulatory visits and prescribed medicines to treat these conditions (figure 4). 

Percentage of health service expenditures by age and sex 

Among adults who received treatment for migraines or other headaches in 2002–03, an annual average 

of 15.1 percent of all ambulatory and prescribed medicines expenditures were for treatment of these 

conditions (figure 5). While there was no significant difference by sex, this percentage decreased with 

age, ranging from 17.9 percent for adults age 18–44 to only 10.5 percent for adults age 65 and over. This 

percentage was smallest for the elderly due to greater expenses for other types of conditions. 

Data Source 

The estimates in this Statistical Brief are based on data from the MEPS 2002 and 2003 Full Year 

Consolidated Files (HC-070 and HC-079), Medical Condition Files (HC-069 and HC-078), Office-Based 

Medical Provider Visits Files (HC-067G and HC-077G), Outpatient Department Visits Files (HC-067F and 

HC-077F), Emergency Room Visits Files (HC-067E and HC-077E), and Prescribed Medicines Files (HC067A and HC-077A). 

Definitions 

Migraine or other headache 

In MEPS, conditions are recorded in connection with reported health care utilization (i.e., a person who 

reports purchasing a drug will be asked what condition the drug was intended to treat). For the purposes 

of this brief, individuals who were reported to have a migraine or other headache associated with one or 

more ambulatory events (see definition below) or prescribed medicine purchases are analyzed. 

Conditions with an ICD9 code of 346 were classified as migraines while the ICD9 codes of 784.0 and 

307.81 were used to identify other headaches. A small number of persons had both migraines and other 

headaches, and these persons are included in the estimates for both categories. 

Ambulatory and prescribed medicine use 

At least one visit to a medical provider and/or one prescribed medicine purchase during the year. Visits 

include those to office-based, hospital outpatient, and emergency department settings. 

Expenditures 

Payments from all sources for ambulatory care provided in offices, hospital outpatient, and emergency 

department settings, as well as prescribed medicine purchases reported by respondents in the MEPSHC. Sources include direct payments from individuals, private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Workers’ 

Compensation, and miscellaneous other sources. Expenditure data for 2002 were Consumer Price Indexadjusted to 2003 dollars. 
About MEPS-HC 

MEPS-HC is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that collects detailed information on health 

care utilization and expenditures, health insurance, and health status, as well as a wide variety of social, 

demographic, and economic characteristics for the civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is 

cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

For more information about MEPS, call the MEPS information coordinator at AHRQ (301-427-1656) or 

visit the MEPS Web site at http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/. 

References

For a detailed description of the MEPS survey design, sample design, and methods used to minimize 

sources of nonsampling error, see the following publications: 

Cohen, J. Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS 

Methodology Report No. 1. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0026. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research, 1997. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/mr1/mr1.pdf 

Cohen, S. Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS 

Methodology Report No. 2. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0027. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research, 1997. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/mr2/mr2.pdf

Cohen, S. Design Strategies and Innovations in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Medical Care,

July 2003: 41(7) Supplement: III-5–III-12. 

Suggested Citation 

Machlin, S. R. and Miller, G. E. Health Service Use and Expenses for Migraines and Other Headaches, 

2002–03 (Average Annual Estimates). Statistical Brief #115. February 2006. Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality, Rockville, Md. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st115/

stat115.pdf 

AHRQ welcomes questions and comments from readers of this publication who are interested in 

obtaining more information about access, cost, use, financing, and quality of health care in the United 

States. We also invite you to tell us how you are using this Statistical Brief and other MEPS data and 

tools and to share suggestions on how MEPS products might be enhanced to further meet your needs. 

Please e-mail us at mepspd@ahrq.gov or send a letter to the address below: 

Steven B. Cohen, PhD, Director 

Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 

540 Gaither Road 

Rockville, MD 20850 
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 

2002–2003.

Figure 1. Percentage of adults age 18 and over 

reported to have health service use* for headaches, 

by type of headache, average annual, 2002–03

3.5

1.9 1.6

0

2

4

6

Any headache Migraine Other headaches

*Health service use includes ambulatory visits and/or prescription drug purchases. A small number of persons reported both 

migraines and other headaches and are included in both categories. Percent

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 

2002–2003.

Figure 2. Average annual expenditures 

for ambulatory care and prescribed medicines, 

by type of headache,* 2002-03

566 577

530

212 243

172

0

200

400

600

800

Any headache Migraine Other headaches 

Average Median

*Among adults age 18 and over with ambulatory visits and/or prescribed drug purchases for headaches. Dollars
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 

2002–2003.

Figure 3. Percentage of adults age 18 and over 

reported to have health service use* for headaches, 

by age and sex, average annual, 2002-03

3.5 3.4

4.5

1.9 1.6

5.3

0

2

4

6

8

Overall 18-44 45-64 65+ Male Female

Percent

Age

* Service use includes ambulatory visits and/or prescription drug purchases for migraines or other headaches.

Sex

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 

2002–2003.

Figure 4. Average annual ambulatory care 

 and prescribed medicines expenditures 

 for headaches by age and sex,* 2002-03

566

516

633

536 552 570

212 191

252 249

195 216

0

150

300

450

600

750

Overall 18-44 45-64 65+ Male Female

Average Median

*Among adults age 18 and over with ambulatory visits and/or prescribed drug purchases for migraines or other headaches.

Age Sex

Dollars
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 

2002–2003.

Figure 5. Percentage of total ambulatory and prescribed 

drug expenditures attributable to headaches,*

by age and sex, average annual, 2002-03

15.1

17.9

14.1

10.5

14.6 15.2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Overall 18-44 45-64 65+ Male Female

*Among adults age 18 and over with ambulatory visits and/or prescribed drug purchases for migraines or other headaches. Percent

Age Sex