Long Covid apheresis treatment demand grows as U.S. access gap widens
A JAMA study estimates Long Covid affects 16.3% of COVID patients, while a Cyprus clinic says U.S. denials are sending patients abroad.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
3 min read
A new Long Covid apheresis treatment debate is emerging after a large U.S. study put the condition’s prevalence far above earlier federal estimates. The findings sharpen a public-health problem for patients who remain ill after COVID-19 and may face limited access to apheresis-based care in the United States.
A study published in JAMA Network Open in May 2026 estimated that Long Covid affects 16.3% of COVID-19 patients, or about one in six, after analyzing nearly 458,000 patients across 58 U.S. hospitals. The study found new cases continued rising through mid-2024, challenging the view that Long Covid is mainly a leftover problem from the pandemic’s early waves.
The prevalence estimates varied by region, from 13.6% in Western Pennsylvania to 22.7% in Southern California. The findings translate to more than 18 million Americans living with Long Covid, according to the study’s authors.
Against that backdrop, the Cyprus-based Apheresis Center says it is seeing rising demand from U.S. patients for H.E.L.P. Apheresis, a blood-filtration procedure it uses as part of a broader protocol for Long Covid and chronic fatigue conditions. The clinic is based in Larnaca and operates as a specialist treatment provider for international patients.
Why are Long Covid patients seeking apheresis treatment abroad?
In an analysis released with the announcement, the clinic said U.S. patients face a coverage and access gap: insurers often classify H.E.L.P. Apheresis and related plasmapheresis techniques as experimental for Long Covid because they are not explicitly FDA-approved for that use. A recommended U.S. course of five to eight sessions can cost $15,000 to $30,000 out of pocket, excluding travel and lodging, according to the clinic’s analysis.
Access is also uneven. Apheresis is available in major U.S. hospitals, but it is rarely used there specifically for Long Covid or ME/CFS, while much of the published clinical experience for this use is concentrated in specialist clinics in Germany and Cyprus.
The clinic’s analysis also points to broader insurance barriers for Long Covid patients, including high deductibles, benefit limits and medical-necessity reviews that can lead to denied claims. Public records have also shown federal lawsuits involving income-replacement insurance denials in Long Covid cases, adding to the financial pressure on some patients.
What is H.E.L.P. Apheresis?
H.E.L.P. Apheresis stands for Heparin-Mediated Extracorporeal LDL/Fibrinogen Precipitation. It is a therapeutic blood-filtration process first developed for severe cholesterol disorders and heart disease, and now used by some specialist clinics for Long Covid and ME/CFS.
During the procedure, blood is drawn from the patient, plasma is separated and treated outside the body with heparin under controlled conditions. The process is intended to remove targeted substances such as LDL cholesterol, lipoprotein(a) and fibrinogen before the plasma is returned.
The Apheresis Center uses H.E.L.P. Apheresis treatment in Cyprus as part of what it calls the Cyprus Protocol, a combination approach for post-viral and chronic inflammatory illness. The clinic says the protocol is aimed at symptoms and conditions associated with Long Covid, ME/CFS, post-exertional malaise, dysautonomia and related chronic illness patterns.
H.E.L.P. Apheresis has been used clinically for close to 40 years, with more than 500,000 treatments documented, the Apheresis Center reports. The clinic says common side effects are generally mild, including bruising, fatigue, low blood pressure or electrolyte imbalance, while severe complications are rare.
The announcement underscores a practical gap in Long Covid care: a growing patient population, limited domestic treatment pathways and insurance rules that can leave patients paying cash or looking overseas. For U.S. patients considering apheresis-based treatment, the central question is often less whether a machine exists nearby than whether a provider will use it for Long Covid and whether insurance will pay.