Medical Education Loan Caps, Residency Cuts Exacerbate US Doctor Shortages

Recent changes under President Donald Trump's administration, specifically the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' have introduced stricter borrowing limits on student loans for professional programs like medical school, raising the lifetime borrowing cap to $200,000 but eliminating the Grad PLUS program by 2026. This poses significant financial barriers for medical students, as the average cost of medical education at institutions like the University of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin far exceeds these new limits, potentially deterring low-income students from pursuing medical careers. Concurrently, there is growing bipartisan momentum in Congress to lift the cap on Medicare-funded residency slots, capped since 1997, in response to a projected physician shortage of up to 86,000 by 2036, with rural areas notably affected. However, cuts in Medicaid and health insurance coverage under the same bill threaten to exacerbate healthcare access issues. Similar shortages are reflected internationally, as seen in Wales where 40% of resident doctors risk unemployment due to limited specialty training posts, leading many to consider leaving the profession or country. These systemic issues underscore the urgent need for expanded federal support for medical education, residency programs, and healthcare workforce planning to address the looming doctor shortage and ensure access to primary care.