Primary care receives only five cents of every health care dollar episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 28, 2026 · 17 MIN

Primary care receives only five cents of every health care dollar

from The Podcast by KevinMD

Family physician and health benefits advisor Jonathan Bushman discusses his article "The 5 percent problem: the low value of primary care." Jonathan contrasts the grueling decade of training and massive debt required to become a doctor with the thirty-minute process of obtaining a health insurance broker license. He reveals the shocking economic reality that both professions command roughly five percent of total health care spending, highlighting a system that values money movement as much as patient healing. The conversation explores his unique position straddling both worlds, arguing that bringing clinical insights into benefit design is the only way to lower costs and improve outcomes. Jonathan challenges the perverse symmetry of a market where a thirty-eight dollar license carries the same economic weight as a medical degree. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

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Primary care receives only five cents of every health care dollar

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This episode was published on February 28, 2026.

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Family physician and health benefits advisor Jonathan Bushman discusses his article "The 5 percent problem: the low value of primary care." Jonathan contrasts the grueling decade of training and massive debt required to become a doctor with the...

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