Why Some Doctors Never Retire

Recent research shows that 45,000 doctors over 65 years of age are still working, while 100,000 have retired from work. What keeps some in the profession while others step away? Coliquio, a Medscape Network platform, surveyed your colleagues to explore their motivations and life plans, revealing three key reasons why doctors keep working.

1. Financial Considerations

Money is an obvious reason for continuing to work for some; the dream of retiring debt-free can only be realized if they stick around for a few more years of work. They are waiting for the ideal time, that is, when they have outstanding loans or find a successor for their practices. Reducing workload is an option, but stepping away completely is not always easy.

“Sylnlaeg,” a Coliquio user who is a gynecologist, shared a familiar dilemma: “Every vacation, I ask myself: How much do I really need to live comfortably? Can I afford to cut back — maybe give up 25% or even 50% of my practice seat?”

There is also debate about whether financial incentives could bring retired doctors back. President of the German Medical Association Klaus Reinhardt, MD, suggested tax relief, citing France’s success in returning 20,000 doctors to the workforce as an example. Could this work for Germany’s 100,000 retired physicians?

A look at a Coliquio forum discussion shows that for many doctors, the idea sounds incomprehensible, especially because there was a fixed age limit for a long time. For a long time, there was a fixed retirement age — until 2008, when German doctors were required to retire at 68. Now, just 15 years later, some find the push to rehire retired workers ironic.

“I have no understanding for such debates. As long as an indescribably high proportion of working time is wasted on administrative and management tasks for both general practitioners and hospital doctors, there is no need to come to me with such debates,” commented another user Volker Schlautmann, a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy.

Nevertheless, the question of meaningful incentives prompts further reflection. Another user who specializes in internal medicine shared his personal vision in the forum discussion — dreaming of a medical profession free from telematics, recourse claims, emergency service obligations, and the countless regulations that take the joy out of the job.

Financial income does not seem to be the most important reason for continuing to work. Once major financial obligations are settled, other motivations take precedence.

2. Passion for the Job

Despite these challenges, medicine remains fulfilling. A user “urmayr” from psychological psychotherapy put it simply:

The profession gives “the feeling of doing something important, something that will last.” This is particularly enriching when patients are accompanied over a long period or when treatment success finally becomes visible in critical cases. For many colleagues, gratitude and appreciation from patients is also one of the beautiful moments that often end abruptly with retirement.

For some, reducing hours rather than fully retiring is a perfect compromise. “micuebmlfa” from general medicine shared her experience: “Now, at 67, working 2 half days completely independently in a new practice is fun, as you can have a good-humored, relaxed relationship with staff and the patients without the slightest hint of being overworked. This is easily doable and desirable in my field, and, as long as there is no self-misjudgment, I will continue to do it for a while. I don’t need any incentives for that.”

3. A Sense of Duty

One reason for continuing to work beyond the retirement age is one’s own sense of responsibility. Medical care is scarce, particularly in rural regions. Many doctors value the personal relationships they have built with their patients and feel committed to continuing to provide care. This motivation was also discussed in the forum, where participants debated whether relinquishing health insurance approval — regardless of age — might be unethical for patients.

A neurologist noted that he would feel guilty giving up his health insurance approval, as many of his patients could not afford private medical treatment.

Even doctors ready to retire often hesitate, worrying about their patients’ care. However, increasing bureaucracy and financial pressure are diminishing this sense of duty. A colleague from pediatrics and adolescent medicine shared her thoughts that she has only 5-10 minutes a day left to spend on paperwork rather than medicine, which is frustrating in the long run. As people get older, this perception can become a key factor in deciding whether to continue working. Each individual must decide whether to reduce their working hours, transition to a new employment, or switch to a different profession.

What About You?

Are you thinking about retirement, or have you already made the leap? Please share your thoughts and experiences with your colleagues.

This article was translated and adapted fromColiquio using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.