More than 25% of Gen Z patients don’t have doctors. Experts weigh in on the cost of skipping care

More Than 25 of Gen Z Skip Doctors: Expert Analysis

More than 25 of Gen Z patients are missing out on regular medical care, according to new research that highlights a growing trend among young adults. While annual physical examinations remain the gold standard for adult preventive healthcare, a growing number of Generation Z individuals are bypassing routine medical appointments. Recent data from a national survey conducted by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reveals that over twenty-five percent of young adults lack a primary care physician entirely. Even among those who maintain a doctor relationship, many fail to attend scheduled checkups or neglect to book them in the first place. The survey results, published on June 29, indicate that merely forty-seven percent of individuals aged eighteen through twenty-nine reported receiving an annual wellness visit within the previous twelve months.

The Hidden Costs of Delayed Medical Care

Healthcare professionals warn that postponing doctor visits during early adulthood carries significant long-term consequences. When preventive opportunities are missed in younger years, individuals face substantially higher probabilities of developing chronic conditions and serious diseases later in life. One particularly alarming trend involves colorectal cancer, which has experienced dramatic increases among younger populations. This malignancy has now emerged as the primary cause of cancer-related mortality for Americans under the age of fifty. With more than 25 of Gen Z patients without regular doctors, these health risks become even more pressing for this demographic.

An annual visit isn’t just about today’s health — it helps identify future risks, keeps preventive care on schedule and gives you a trusted clinician who knows your medical history and can help navigate health concerns, be they physical health or mental health concerns, as they arise.

Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN wellness contributor and emergency physician serving as clinical associate professor at George Washington University, emphasized the comprehensive value of regular medical visits. She was not connected to the Ohio State survey but provided expert commentary on the findings.

Generational Differences in Healthcare Utilization

The poll examined medical habits across multiple age demographics, surveying one thousand six respondents in total. Older adults demonstrated the strongest connection to primary care, with ninety-seven percent of participants aged sixty-five and above maintaining a regular healthcare provider. This figure stands in contrast to the seventy-one percent of younger adults who reported having consistent medical care access. Notably, more than 25 of Gen Z patients fall into the category of those without any established doctor relationship at all.

When faced with non-emergency health concerns, many Generation Z individuals opt for local urgent care facilities rather than traditional primary care offices. The survey data shows that thirty-six percent of young adults consult immediate care centers as their first point of contact for medical issues.

There are lost opportunities to build a relationship of trust with somebody who can potentially keep you out of the emergency room or help support you in ways that help maintain your health over the long-term.

Dr. Russell Phillips, senior adviser on innovation within the primary care division of general medicine at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, highlighted the importance of sustained doctor-patient relationships. He was not involved in the original survey research.

Why Younger Adults May Be Underestimating Health Risks

Younger generations often exhibit less concern about health risks compared to their elders, largely because they are statistically less prone to age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders. However, this relative calmness does not indicate immunity from serious illness. Medical experts caution that Generation Z and millennials face genuine risks of developing severe diseases at earlier ages than previous generations. For more than 25 of Gen Z patients who lack regular medical attention, these risks may go undetected until they become serious problems.

We lowered the age for routine colon cancer screening for everybody from 50 to 45, but that age can be even lower if our family history is more complex.

Dr. Zachary Bittinger, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, noted this important consideration. He was not directly connected to the survey either.

Finding the Right Medical Match

Experts agree that if your initial healthcare provider does not feel like the right fit, there is no shame in continuing your search until you locate someone with whom you feel comfortable. Dr. Bittinger suggested that patients should feel empowered to seek new providers if communication feels strained. For more than 25 of Gen Z patients who have never established a doctor relationship, finding the right medical professional can be an important first step toward better long-term health outcomes.

If we have an initial visit or two with somebody, and we’re still just not quite sure that you’re speaking the same language as your doctor … it’s OK to see somebody new.