If it feels like getting a doctor appointment now requires a small miracle,  you’re not imagining it.

Across the U.S., the physician workforce is under real strain. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, driven by factors like population aging, physician retirements, and uneven distribution of clinicians across communities.

For older adults, who often need consistent primary care and multiple specialists, this shortage can hit especially hard.

What’s driving the shortage?

A few big forces are converging:

• More people need care. The U.S. population is aging, and chronic conditions become more common with age, which means demand rises.
• Aging clinician workforce + burnout. Many doctors are nearing retirement, and burnout has contributed to clinicians cutting back hours or leaving practice.
• Primary care is the pinch point. Primary care access has been worsening, and long waits are increasingly common.
• Rural/non-metro areas are hit hardest. Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), projections show non-metro areas facing especially steep primary care gaps in future years.

How the doctor shortage impacts seniors

Here’s what seniors most commonly experience when provider capacity is tight:

1) Longer waits (even when you do have coverage)

Delays can affect routine visits, follow-ups, and specialist appointments. With beneficiaries frequently reporting longer waits, especially for certain specialties.

2) Harder time finding a new primary care doctor

Even in strong healthcare markets, some practices stop accepting new patients or limit Medicare patients, making it tougher to establish care.

3) Fragmented care (more “handoffs,” less continuity)

When you can’t get in quickly with your usual clinician, you may end up using urgent care or the ER more often, and your care becomes less coordinated.

4) Specialist bottlenecks

Specialties like dermatology, endocrinology, neurology, rheumatology, pulmonology, and psychiatry are often reported as harder to access.

What seniors can do to mitigate the impact (practical, high-leverage steps)

Think of this as “access insurance”—actions that improve your odds of getting timely care.

1) Lock in a primary care “home base” (even if you feel healthy)

Don’t wait for a health issue to start looking. If you already have a PCP, schedule at least one routine visit each year to stay “established.”

Pro move: Ask the office, “If my doctor leaves, how are patients reassigned?”

2) Expand your definition of “my provider.”

Many seniors get excellent care from nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), especially for routine management of blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and medication monitoring. HRSA’s primary care workforce definitions and reporting include these clinicians as part of the primary care supply.

3) Use telehealth strategically

Telehealth can be ideal for:

• Medication refills
• Reviewing test results
• Minor acute issues (UTIs, rashes, sinus issues—when appropriate)
• Behavioral health check-ins

It won’t replace everything, but it can shorten the time-to-care.

4) Treat your Medicare plan choice like a network access decision, not just a premium decision

This is huge.

• With Medicare Advantage (HMO/PPO): confirm your preferred doctors are in-network and accepting new patients.
• With Original Medicare + a Supplement (Medigap): you can generally see any provider who accepts Medicare, but you still need a provider who is taking new patients.

Bottom line: coverage ≠ appointment availability. Your plan should support the access strategy you need.

5) Get on waitlists and ask the right question

When you call for a new patient appointment, ask:

• “Do you have a cancellation list?”
• “Is there a nurse practitioner/PA appointment sooner?”
• “If I take the first available, can I later switch to Dr. ___ when openings appear?”

6) Use pharmacists as part of your care team

Pharmacists can help with:

• Medication reviews (especially if you take multiple prescriptions)
• Identifying interactions
• Vaccination services
• Troubleshooting side effects to reduce unnecessary visits

7) Keep your own “portable medical record.”

In a tight system, you want speed and clarity.
Keep a simple document with:

• Current medications + doses
• Allergies
• Diagnoses and surgeries
• Recent lab results (if you have them)
• Names of your doctors and pharmacies

This helps any new provider get up to speed faster.

8) Consider additional access options (if they fit your budget)

Some seniors explore:

• Direct Primary Care (DPC) or concierge-style primary care (membership-based)
• Community health centers (often strong access for primary care)
• In-home primary care programs (in some areas)

Not everyone needs these, but for people with complex conditions, it can be a game-changer.

My best advice in one sentence: Be proactive before you’re in a crisis because the system is busiest when you need it most.

If you’d like help reviewing your Medicare options with provider access in mind, click here to schedule a personal Medicare one-on-one, no-cost strategy session.