A growing number of teenagers and young adults are quietly dropping out of routine health care during the years when they are learning to manage life on their own. The gap often shows up between ages 15 and 23, right when parents stop scheduling appointments and handling logistics. That shift can mean missed vaccines, delayed mental health support, and fewer chances for preventive guidance that protects long term wellbeing. It is not always a dramatic choice, since for many young people it starts with one skipped visit that turns into years without checkups.
One study found that more than 30 percent of males and nearly 20 percent of females ages 15 to 23 eventually stop going to regular doctor visits. Pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Arik Marcell, who helped author the research, put it plainly: “Young men generally have less contact with the health system.” When routine care fades, it can leave emerging health issues unnoticed until they become harder to treat. It also removes an important safety net during a life stage when stress, sleep changes, and risk taking behaviors are common.
There are several practical reasons young people give for avoiding appointments, and many have nothing to do with fear of doctors. Confusion about health insurance coverage and how to use benefits can be enough to keep someone from making a call. Some struggle to find a primary care clinician, figure out scheduling portals, or navigate long waits for appointments. Others worry about privacy or simply assume they do not need care because they feel fine.
That last point is especially common, according to pediatrician Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine. She noted that “many feel healthy and do not have clear complaints, so they do not think about how checkups and preventive visits matter even when there are no symptoms.” The problem is that preventive care is designed for the times you feel fine, since that is when screening, counseling, and early detection work best. Skipping visits can also mean missing guidance about nutrition, sleep, injuries, and stress management at exactly the moment those habits are being set for adulthood.
Vaccination timing can unintentionally add to the drop off. Dr. Mark Murray, chief medical officer at Nemours Children’s Health, explained that “most vaccines are given earlier in childhood, so there is a stretch when, aside from annual vaccines, no other immunizations are recommended for years.” When teens do not have a clear reminder like a new shot due, the visit can feel optional. Add school, part time jobs, and extracurriculars, and a checkup can start to look like something that can always be postponed.
The consequences are bigger than a missed physical. Regular visits are also where clinicians check in on mental health, discuss sexual health and consent, and talk about substance use in a way that is age appropriate and confidential. Dr. Marcell stressed that doctors do more than treat illness and also provide preventive direction and counseling about life choices, including mental and sexual health and substance use. He also emphasized that “other areas include providing vaccines, doing tests, or completing other related care recommended by national professional medical organizations.” When young people disappear from care, those conversations often do too.
There is also a relationship cost that can affect future care seeking. Dr. Murray warned that “skipping annual checkups also makes it harder for the patient and parent to keep building trust and a deeper relationship with the doctor.” That trust can be what helps a teen speak up about anxiety, a new symptom, or a sensitive question they do not want to ask at home. Without it, some young adults only return to the health system when a problem becomes urgent.
The research also suggested that young women are more likely than young men to re enter care, sometimes because of menstrual concerns or pregnancy. That pattern can create a dangerous mismatch where young men, who may already be less likely to seek help, have even fewer routine touchpoints. It also means families might mistakenly assume that everyone will naturally reconnect with health care as they get older. In reality, habits formed during the late teen years can shape whether someone sees preventive care as normal or unnecessary for decades.
A big question for many families is whether a teen should stay with a pediatrician or switch to an adult primary care clinician. Experts say the specific title matters less than having a provider a young person trusts and will actually see. Dr. Marcell advised that “the most important thing is finding a clinician you feel comfortable with, who delivers care in a sensitive, nonjudgmental, flexible, developmentally and culturally responsive way, and who maintains confidentiality.” He also pointed to guidance from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and other national medical groups to help families understand what quality care should include.
Some teens worry they have outgrown pediatric offices, especially when the waiting room feels aimed at toddlers. Dr. Fox-Levine said young people often start to feel awkward with pediatrics between 16 and 21, adding that they comment on being in the waiting room and “seeing all the babies.” Dr. Murray’s message to older teens and young adults is that pediatricians can still be the right fit if the patient is comfortable. He often tells patients, “I am comfortable treating you as long as you are comfortable with me treating you,” and he stresses, “the most important thing is that you keep up with yearly physicals and do not ignore small problems so they do not become big ones.”
After the immediate discussion about missed appointments, it helps to remember what preventive care actually covers and why it is scheduled the way it is. A yearly visit typically includes a review of growth and development, blood pressure checks, and a conversation about sleep, nutrition, activity, and stress. Clinicians may recommend screenings based on age and risk, such as depression screening, sexually transmitted infection testing, or follow ups for acne, asthma, or sports injuries. Confidentiality also matters because young people are more likely to share honest details when they know what stays private and what must be shared for safety.
The transition to independence can go smoother with a few practical steps families can normalize early. Teens can practice calling to schedule their own appointments, refilling prescriptions, and asking how billing and insurance work. They can also learn how to prepare a short health history, list medications, and write questions down before a visit. Most importantly, they can get comfortable treating preventive care as a routine part of adulthood, not something reserved for emergencies.
What changes do you think would make it easier for teens and young adults to keep regular doctor visits and preventive care as part of their routine, and share your thoughts in the comments.
