After medical school, newly minted doctors need to enter a residency program, or graduate medical education (GME) program, to hone their skills and gain real-life experience. In 2025, a record number of graduates matched with residency programs. For disability insurance agents, this is a huge GME DIS opportunity.
The Big Residency Match
Have you ever wondered how medical school graduates decide where to spend their residency? Many graduates apply for the National Resident Matching Program, which uses an algorithm to match applicants with residency and fellowship positions.
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the 2025 Main Residency Match was the biggest in the program’s 73-year history. A total of 52,498 people applied for the Match, and 43,237 positions were offered.
The Number of Residents Is Even Greater
Not all residents were part of the 2025 Main Residency Match. Some may have secured a residency program outside of the program. Others may have used the program in previous years. Residency programs typically last for three to seven years.
According to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), there were 162,644 active residents and fellows in the 2023 to 2024 program year. The number of active residents and fellows has increased by 33.8% since the 2014 to 2015 program year.
The U.S. Needs More Doctors
With an aging population, the U.S. is seeing rising needs for healthcare. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the country will add 34,500 positions for physicians and surgeons between 2023 and 2033.
However, filling these positions may be difficult because many doctors are quitting or thinking about quitting. According to the AMA, more than a third of all doctors are thinking about either stepping down or scaling back. This could result in greater worker shortages.
The 2025 Main Residency Match was the biggest in history, but this record may not last for long. To keep up with growing demand, more doctors will need to be trained. That means there will be more residents – and more prospects needing graduate medical education paycheck protection.
The GME DIS Opportunity
If you sell disability insurance, you probably already know that doctors are considered a prime market. They have everything you would look for in an ideal candidate, including a large income to protect and the ability to afford coverage. They also tend to have significant student loan debt, so they’re depending on their income to recover their finances.
The question isn’t whether doctors should buy disability insurance – it’s when they should buy coverage. Some may wait until after they’ve finished their residency program and become a full-fledged doctor with a much larger paycheck. However, securing coverage while still in residency makes sense.
- Residents have a respectable income to protect. According to the 2024 AAMC Survey of Resident/Fellow Stipends and Benefits, residents earn an average of $66,712 and $90,562 a year depending on the program year, with first-year residents making less than residents who have been in the program for longer.
- Residents are in a financially delicate position. Residents are starting to earn a good salary, but they often have a ton of student loan debt. The Education Data Initiative says 73% of medical school graduates have educational debt, and the average amount is $264,519. If a disability prevents them from working, their financial situation can turn dire fast.
- Residents have a future income to protect. Doximity says that doctors earn an average of $217,875 to $763,908 depending on their specialty. By securing disability insurance coverage early and locking in good terms, doctors can protect this income.
- Residency is extremely demanding. Resident doctors are known for working 60, 70 or even 80 hours a week. That’s hardly sustainable when you’re healthy, and it’s likely impossible when you’re not. Disability insurance provides valuable protection.
Breaking into the DIS GME Market
The GME market for disability insurance can be lucrative, but it can also be challenging. This is a very specialized niche, and to succeed in it, you need access to graduate medical education disability insurance products. You also need to know a little about how resident programs work and the best way to approach them.
DIS can help. We’re the original graduate medical education disability insurance provider, and we can help agents navigate the sales process. Learn more about disability insurance for residents.