Technology and value-based models will reshape healthcare by 2035

As we browse 2025, the U.S. healthcare system is at a critical moment. The growing demographic shift is accelerating now, posing a challenge, which fundamentally will fundamentally reshape care over the next decade. I have worked with health care organizations across the country and I have witnessed first-hand how these changes affect care services and I believe we must now prepare for the transformational landscape that awaits ours in 2035.

The crowd is imperative

The most important driver of change in healthcare is not new technologies or government policies, but demographics. In 2015, our society provided about four workers for each retiree. By 2035, that ratio will be drastically narrowed to two workers per retiree. This fundamental shift brings more challenges that will affect every aspect of our healthcare system.

This population pressure has been shown in the shortage of staff. As of 2025, we have a shortage of about 5% of doctors nationwide. By 2035, forecasts suggest that this shortage will double to 10%, meaning that only 90% of our doctors are here to support our aging population. Considering that it usually takes weeks or months to wait to make sure you date with a doctor today – now imagine when the elderly population in need of care is basically double.

Financial sustainability under pressure

The population shift puts huge pressure on our healthcare financing system. The federal government has allocated trillions of dollars primarily through Medicare and Medicaid for health care spending. With the ratio of contributor-beneficiary changes, maintaining the quality of health care expected by Americans will require significant innovation in funding mechanisms and care delivery models.

At the same time, healthcare consumers are becoming more and more complex. Patients are armed with the information collected online and expect the consumer experience to be comparable to other departments. This growing consumerism puts additional pressure on healthcare organizations to provide not only high-quality clinical outcomes but also excellent service experience.

Value-based care: the way forward

To address these convergence challenges, value-based care has become a major strategy and I believe its momentum will continue regardless of the political shift. What does this mean in the actual sense? We can expect:

• Increased human supporter incentives and an increase in population health outcomes
• A large number of expansions based on home care
• Pay more attention to primary health care to actively manage health
• More direct payers are involved in nursing services when gaining practices and provider organizations

The transition from expensive hospital-centric care to a more distributed prevention model represents both the necessary evolution and the profound opportunity to reimagine health care.

Technology as the basic enabler

None of these transformations will succeed without technology as a basis. Three technical capabilities will be particularly important:

Navigation policy uncertainty

While population and technological forces shape health care is clear, the policy environment is likely to change. Current management may remain stable in terms of health insurance benefits, while potentially reducing ACA subsidies and relaxing program requirements. Medicaid faces the greatest uncertainty and proposes recommendations to reduce federal costs and transfer more responsibility to states.

Despite these policy volatility, the fundamental challenges of demographics, labor shortages and financing restrictions will continue. Organizations that adopt a value-based care model and leverage technology to expand access will best position themselves as thriving.

in conclusion

When we focus on 2035, the most likely successful healthcare facilities will be those:

• Embrace technology to make data prosecutable and seamlessly integrate into workflows
• Develop care models that extend beyond traditional environments to houses and virtual environments
• Focus on preventive care and population health management
• Create a consumer-friendly experience that keeps patient expectations rising
• Establish a sustainable financial model under value-based care arrangements

The coming decade will be like our healthcare system that has never been tested before. But among these challenges, if we dare to innovate and adapt to the ever-changing landscape, then there is an opportunity to build a more accessible, effective and sustainable healthcare system.

Demographic reality cannot be avoided, but by considerate application of technology and reimagined care models, we can build a health care system ready to meet the needs of all Americans in 2035 and beyond.

Photo: Rudall30, Getty Images

This article passed Mixed Influencer program. Anyone can post a view on MedCity News' healthcare business and innovation through MedCity Remacence. Click here to learn how.