🟠 Moderate Evidence
A new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reveals that approximately three in ten young adults in the United States do not have a primary care physician. Among those who do have one, the majority report infrequent or no contact, indicating a significant gap in routine preventive care engagement among this demographic. The findings raise concerns about missed opportunities for early disease detection and health promotion in a population that represents a crucial window for establishing lifelong health behaviours.
Key takeaways
- Approximately 30% of young adults lack a primary care doctor, according to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center survey
- Among young adults who do have a primary care physician, most do not see them regularly
- Absence of consistent primary care may result in delayed diagnosis of chronic diseases and reduced preventive health screening
Study at a Glance
| Source | Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center |
| Study type | Cross-sectional survey |
| Population | Young adults in the United States |
| Key finding | 3 in 10 young adults lack a primary care doctor |
| Country | United States |
Primary care access among young adults
Proportion of young adults with and without established primary care relationships
Source: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 2026 | Georgian Medical Journal News
A widening gap in preventive care access
The survey reveals that young adulthood represents a critical but neglected period in the healthcare continuum. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center research demonstrates that the absence of a stable primary care relationship during these formative years can have downstream consequences for disease prevention and health management. Young adults aged roughly 18–40 often experience a period of relative good health, which may paradoxically reduce motivation to establish ongoing care relationships.
This pattern mirrors broader trends in health system utilization across developed nations. The Clinical Updates section of GMJ News has documented similar access challenges in various healthcare systems, reflecting both systemic and behavioural barriers to primary care engagement. The Ohio State findings suggest that reliance on episodic, acute-care-focused visits may be displacing the traditional primary care model among younger cohorts.
Low engagement even among those with established care
The survey findings are particularly concerning because they reveal two distinct problems: first, the absence of a primary care relationship for a substantial minority, and second, the underutilization of primary care among those who nominally have one. The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center data indicate that young adults with an assigned or established primary care physician frequently do not schedule or maintain regular visits, reducing the preventive value of that relationship.
This low engagement pattern may reflect multiple factors, including competing demands on time, cost concerns (despite insurance coverage), perceived irrelevance of preventive care during health, and the increasing availability of urgent care and telehealth alternatives that bypass traditional primary care gatekeeping. Understanding these barriers is essential for designing interventions that restore primary care’s central role in health maintenance and early disease detection in this population.
Implications for chronic disease prevention and early detection
The absence of consistent primary care relationships in young adulthood may have long-term public health consequences. Primary care physicians serve as the first point of clinical contact for risk factor screening—including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, prediabetes, and behavioural health conditions—that often begin in the third and fourth decades of life. Without these interactions, conditions may progress undetected until they reach advanced stages or manifest as acute events.
The Health Policy category at GMJ News has explored similar concerns in other healthcare systems. Research indicates that primary care-focused health systems achieve better long-term population health outcomes and lower total healthcare costs than fragmented, specialty-led models. The Ohio State findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to re-engage young adults with primary care during a critical window for intervention.
Approximately 30% of young adults in the United States do not have a primary care physician, and among those who do, most do not maintain regular contact.
— Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center survey, 2026
What this means
Frequently asked questions
Why is primary care important for young, healthy adults?
Primary care physicians conduct risk screening and early detection of conditions such as hypertension, elevated cholesterol, prediabetes, and depression that often begin in young adulthood but may progress silently. Early intervention at these stages can prevent or delay serious complications. A consistent primary care relationship also ensures continuity of care and coordination across the healthcare system.
What barriers prevent young adults from accessing primary care?
Barriers include time constraints, cost concerns despite insurance, perception that preventive care is unnecessary during periods of health, and competition from urgent care centres and telehealth platforms that do not require an established primary care relationship. Additionally, some young adults lack awareness of the value of preventive care or have had negative experiences with healthcare providers.
How can young adults re-engage with primary care?
Young adults should schedule an initial appointment with a primary care physician for a comprehensive health assessment and risk screening. Many health systems now offer flexible, telehealth-enabled visits and extended hours to accommodate busy schedules. Employers and insurers can support this engagement by removing financial barriers and clearly communicating the preventive benefits of annual visits.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center survey highlights an urgent need to restore primary care as the foundation of health maintenance in young adulthood. As healthcare systems increasingly focus on value and population health outcomes, reconnecting young adults with primary care practitioners represents both a clinical imperative and an opportunity to shape healthier trajectories across the lifespan. Policymakers, health systems, and clinicians must collaborate to design and implement interventions that make primary care accessible, engaging, and clearly valuable to this demographically important population.
Source: Survey finds 3 in 10 young adults don’t have a doctor; if they do, most don’t see them
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