A record number of boomers are going to retire to rural areas over the next 20 years, but dearth of doctors will be one of the biggest problems they will experience in those areas.

As per available figures, around 78 million people in America born between the year of 1946 and 1964, and thus they will retire within the next 20 years, and move to rural areas to mix with their family members once again.

But rural areas and even small towns like Grants Pass, which is situated 250 miles south of Portland, lacks family doctors who are willing to take Medicare.

Speaking on the situation, a senior citizen said, “It's a sad situation for seniors.”

There are a number of reasons boomers that will make it difficult for boomers in rural areas to find a doctor over the next two decades.

The biggest reason is primary care doctors’ desire to live and work in urban areas as urban areas provide them with greater cultural opportunities, job opportunities for their spouses, and better schools for their children.

Moreover, Medicare program pays physicians in rural areas less than urban doctors as their operating costs are allegedly less, which makes the rural job less attractive than urban job.

The planned cuts to Medicare reimbursement for doctors will likely make situation even worse in rural areas.