Compare 207 cardiologists in San Diego, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
207
Cardiologists
100%
Accepting patients
85%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
San Diego's healthcare runs on three competing systems: UC San Diego Health, Scripps Health, and Sharp HealthCare. Between them, they cover the county pretty thoroughly. The biotech corridor in Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley also means clinical trials are unusually accessible here for a city this size.
San Diego has 207 cardiologists. The most common credential is MD (85%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
San Diego sprawls north-south along the coast, so healthcare access depends heavily on which part of the county you live in. The Hillcrest-Mission Valley corridor is the densest medical zone. North County residents look to Scripps Encinitas and Palomar Health in Escondido. South Bay patients use Sharp Chula Vista or cross into the Hillcrest hub. The trolley connects downtown to some hospital areas, but most patients drive.
Providers practice throughout San Diego. La Jolla is uC San Diego Health and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla make this a hub for specialty and research-driven care. Gaslamp Quarter is downtown providers serve the urban core, with Sharp Memorial and UC San Diego Health a short drive away. Pacific Beach is a younger, active community with walk-in clinics and easy access to Scripps and Sharp hospital systems. Hillcrest is home to Scripps Mercy Hospital and a strong network of LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare providers.
Nearby hospitals include UC San Diego Health, Scripps Mercy Hospital, and Sharp Memorial Hospital. Local training programs run through University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and San Diego State University. San Diego is a major biotech hub with over 1,100 life sciences companies in the region.
A first cardiology visit involves a detailed medical history, physical exam (including listening to your heart and checking your blood pressure in both arms), and an electrocardiogram (EKG). Depending on your symptoms, the cardiologist may order an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), stress test, or blood work. They will explain their findings and outline a treatment plan.
If you're new to San Diego, pick a primary care doctor within one of the three big systems (UCSD, Scripps, or Sharp) before you need one. Walk-in urgent care is widely available, but establishing a PCP makes specialist access much faster.
See a cardiologist if you have chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath with exertion, heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat, a family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure that is hard to control, high cholesterol not responding to lifestyle changes, dizziness or fainting episodes, or if your PCP detects a heart murmur or abnormal EKG.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · EKG: $200-500 · Echocardiogram: $1,000-3,000 · Stress test: $500-2,000
Wildfire smoke from inland fires occasionally pushes into coastal neighborhoods. Allergy sufferers should know that San Diego's dry climate still produces significant pollen from non-native landscaping plants.
Chest pain has many causes, from muscle strain to heart disease. A cardiologist performs the testing needed to determine whether your heart is the source and develops a treatment plan if it is.
A heart that beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly may need treatment. Cardiologists use EKGs, Holter monitors, and other tools to diagnose the rhythm problem and determine the best approach.
Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped. It means it is not pumping as efficiently as it should. Cardiologists manage this condition with medications, lifestyle changes, and monitoring to keep you stable.
When blood pressure is resistant to standard treatment or is causing organ damage, a cardiologist provides advanced evaluation and treatment strategies beyond what primary care typically offers.
Recovering from a cardiac event requires close monitoring, medication optimization, and cardiac rehabilitation. Your cardiologist guides the recovery process and works to prevent future events.
San Diego, CA has 207 licensed cardiologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of cardiologists in San Diego, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Employer plans in San Diego lean toward Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and Kaiser (which operates its own facilities in Kearny Mesa and Clairemont). Medi-Cal is managed through San Diego County's Health and Human Services. Covered California offers multiple plan options, with Molina and Blue Shield as common choices.
Office visit copays range from $30 to $75. An EKG costs $200 to $500. Echocardiograms run $1,000 to $3,000. Stress tests range from $500 to $2,000. Actual costs in San Diego, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Cardiology tests often require prior authorization from your insurer. Cardiac rehabilitation is covered by most plans after qualifying events like a heart attack or heart surgery.
San Diego healthcare is dominated by three systems: UC San Diego Health (academic, research-focused), Scripps Health (five hospital campuses, strong cardiology), and Sharp HealthCare (the largest system by patient volume). Most specialists are affiliated with one of these three, so your choice of PCP often determines your referral path.
74% of cardiologists in San Diego, CA accept Medicare. Medicare covers cardiology visits, diagnostic tests, and cardiac rehabilitation. Most cardiovascular procedures are covered under Part B or Part A (inpatient). Prior authorization may be needed for some tests. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some cardiologists in San Diego, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers cardiology services in all states. Coverage for specific tests, procedures, and cardiac rehabilitation varies. Prior authorization is common for advanced imaging. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Medi-Cal participation before scheduling.
San Diego has one of the highest concentrations of TRICARE-accepting providers in the country, given the large military presence (Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar). Most major systems and many independent practices accept TRICARE Prime and Select.
North County (Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido) has grown faster than its healthcare infrastructure. Scripps Encinitas and Palomar Health are the main hospital systems. Primary care wait times can be longer than in central San Diego, especially for new patients. Urgent care centers fill some of the gap.
Top accepted carriers in San Diego, CA include medicare, unitedhealthcare, qhp-23603, qhp-10091, and qhp-56707.
Cardiology visits are covered under medical insurance as specialist visits. You may need a referral from your PCP depending on your plan type (HMO vs. PPO). Tests like echocardiograms and stress tests are generally covered when ordered for medical reasons but may require prior authorization. Cardiac rehabilitation after a heart event is covered by most plans.