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How Many Physicians Have Opted Out of the Medicare Program?
Medicare provides health insurance coverage to 67 million adults—20% of the U.S population—and is a major source of revenue for physicians and other health providers. In 2024, Medicare spending on Part B services (including physician services, outpatient services, and physician-administered drugs) accounted for nearly half (49%) of total Medicare benefit spending. Physicians are not required to participate in Medicare, though the vast majority of them choose to do so. Alex Cottrill, Nancy Ochieng, and Tricia Neuman for The Kaiser Family Foundation authored a brief using the most recent CMS data to document the extent to which non-pediatric physicians have opted out of Medicare. Click here to access this brief.
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