Allergy season is in full bloom. Spring’s warmer temperatures have combined with pollen counts increasing in many parts of the U.S. — in some places, the dust could even be growing into a year-round visitor.¹

Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds can trigger allergic rhinitis (commonly known as “hay fever”), which affects up to 60 million Americans. The resulting sneezing, runny nose, and congestion can be the body’s way of responding to the allergen — and treating symptoms has been adding up.²

Off-the-shelf solutions

Seasonal allergies can drive big business, with the $22.8 billion global allergy treatment market expected to grow to more than $42 billion by 2034.³

Allergy medications without a prescription are one option to fight the battle against pollen, and here’s how American shoppers have been spending on over-the-counter (OTC) solutions:⁴

• Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households buy over-the-counter allergy medications, spending an average of $58.

• During allergy season, 60% of buyers take these medications daily.

• 70% of shoppers reported using only OTC medications, while 30% said they supplement these with prescription medicines.

• April sees the highest amount of allergy medication sales (11.3% of annual sales in 2023).

Allergies may be part of what’s in the air when it comes to seasonal credit card expenses: In April 2024, people spent $398.64 on healthcare and medical expenses overall, a 5.27% year-over-year jump, according to Empower Personal Dashboard^TM data.

The majority of consumers (72%) think store-brand and name-brand allergy medications offer the same quality.⁵ That’s not stopping pharmaceutical companies from investing in getting their brand names into consumers’ minds. Ad spending for the healthcare and pharma sector was expected to top $30 billion in 2024.⁶

This year, OTC brand Allegra formed a partnership with Disney’s live-action “Snow White” movie release through in-store displays and media ads — tying seasonal allergies to a cultural moment.⁷

Taking another shot

For people who need a stronger dose of medicine, allergy shots could be a longer-lasting option with a higher price tag.

The injections, also known as immunotherapy, include trace amounts of allergens, intending to desensitize people to their triggers and strengthen the immune system. Immunotherapy can be given to people 5 and older, with 80% seeing significant improvement in their symptoms.⁸

Depending on health insurance, allergists, and other factors, paying for allergy shots can run between $1,000 and $4,000 each year.⁹

Paying the price

Spending on healthcare has been on the rise in the U.S., growing 7.5% in 2023 and amounting to more than $14,500 per person.¹⁰ Considering how to balance out-of-pocket spending and potential tax savings can be important for people juggling recurring allergy expenses.

Medical flexible spending accounts (FSAs) have been a staple of the employee-benefits world for more than 40 years, allowing workers to help reduce taxable income and set aside pre-tax money to use on costs not already covered by health insurance.

Read more: Medical FSAs: ‘Use it or lose it’ time is here

Health savings accounts are another tax-advantaged way for people to earmark medical money. An account can offer triple tax advantages, with its contributions, any earnings, and withdrawals being free of federal income tax if used to pay for qualified medical expenses.

A variety of OTC allergy medications are covered by FSAs and HSAs, along with prescription drug costs and copays.¹¹

Spending money to stay well can be a good investment: Over a third of people (35%) say their physical wellbeing is how they define success, according to Empower research.

Breathing freely

Even for those battling allergies, people don’t want to be held back from spending time outside: As of 2023, around 57% of the U.S. population participates annually in an average of 62.5 outdoor recreation outings each.

Even getting outside to do chores can brighten the day, with 25% of Americans saying that maintaining their lawn makes them happy.

Read more: Grass is getting greener: A lawn maintenance cost checkup

With most of the country expected to see a dry, warm spring in 2025, pollen could linger, though different conditions could affect the count. Rain could wash allergens away, while higher humidity levels may prevent particles from sticking around.¹²

While the intensity of this year’s allergy season is still up in the air, getting clarity on making the most of expenses isn’t anything to sneeze at.