The Great American Doctor Shortage—And Why Your Future Doctor Might Be Waiting for You in Costa Rica

The Great American Doctor Shortage—And Why Your Future Doctor Might Be Waiting for You in Costa Rica

By Admin. in medical tourism. Post on April 15, 2025.

Every day in America, 10,000 people turn 65. That’s not a typo. Ten thousand. Every. Single. Day. That’s a packed football stadium of people newly eligible for Medicare—people who will need more healthcare, more often, for longer.

Here’s the problem: for every 1,000 of those people, we’ll need about 2.6 to 2.8 new doctors. Do the math, and we’re talking 26 to 28 new doctors required per day, just to support Medicare patients. But we’re not adding that many. In fact, we’re losing them.

Who’s left to take care of the aging America?

Doctors Are Retiring—and Fast

More than 38,000 doctors left the workforce in 2021 alone. That includes 13,000 family doctors and over 15,000 internists. The kinds of physicians most people count on for day-to-day, essential care. And nearly half of all practicing U.S. doctors are over the age of 55. Which means the retirement wave is just beginning.

So yes, we’re adding tens of thousands of new patients, but thousands of doctors are hanging up their white coats. Think that’s sustainable?

Let’s Talk Shortage

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. That’s:

• 6,615 fewer doctors per year

• 552 fewer doctors per month

• 127 fewer doctors per week

That’s a whole graduating medical class wiped out—monthly.

Now toss in the fact that younger doctors are facing burnout, student debt, and administrative overload, and the pipeline starts looking shaky. Especially in rural areas, where some counties don’t even have a single OB-GYN or primary care doc.

So, here’s a question worth asking: If the doctors are leaving, the patients are growing, and the costs are rising… who’s left holding the stethoscope?

The Elephant in the Waiting Room

Let’s not pretend this is just about numbers. This is about access. Wait times are increasing. Costs are climbing. And the U.S. healthcare system—already one of the most expensive in the world—is groaning under the weight of its own complexity.

Enter an option most Americans haven’t seriously considered: medical care abroad.

No, this isn’t about jet-setting to Bali for some spa-like surgery. It’s about real people, with real medical needs, finding accredited, affordable, and high-quality care in places like Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Thailand.

It’s called healthcare tourism, and it’s growing fast. Not because it’s trendy—but because it’s practical.

Meet CureValue: Your Global Healthcare Concierge

CureValue.org is one of the new platforms making this all accessible and transparent. It’s not just a directory of hospitals abroad. It’s a digital experience that helps Americans compare procedures, costs, destinations, and even doctors themselves. You can video chat with physicians before booking anything. You get help arranging your trip. And you see upfront exactly how much you’ll save—often 50–70% less than the cost in the U.S.

It’s kind of like Expedia, but for knee replacements and heart procedures.

And here’s the kicker: many of the international hospitals CureValue works with are JCI-accredited, which is the same level of international quality recognition that top U.S. hospitals carry. They speak English. They’re used to American patients. They’re prepared.

Why This Isn’t Just for the Wealthy

In fact, it’s not for the wealthy at all. It’s for the average American who’s stuck between a high deductible and a hard place. Or the retiree living on a fixed income who needs a hip replacement but can’t afford to wait nine months—or pay $40,000 out of pocket.

Healthcare tourism isn’t an escape—it’s an alternative. A safety valve. A Plan B that’s looking more like a Plan A.

So Where Does This Leave Us?

Here’s the reality: the U.S. system isn’t going to fix itself overnight. Training more doctors takes time. Reform is slow. But the need? That’s now.

And Americans are pragmatic. If the care they need isn’t available—or affordable—at home, they’ll look elsewhere.

Platforms like CureValue are making it easier, safer, and smarter to do just that. Because when the waiting room is full and the doctor has retired, sometimes the best move is to book a plane ticket—and get better care in the process.