Compare 113 ents (otolaryngologists) in Pittsburgh, PA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
113
ENTs (Otolaryngologists)
100%
Accepting patients
73%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Pittsburgh is a UPMC town, and there is no getting around it. UPMC is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country, and it functions as both a hospital operator and an insurance company. Allegheny Health Network (AHN), backed by Highmark Blue Cross, provides the main alternative. The rivalry between UPMC and Highmark shapes nearly every healthcare decision a Pittsburgh resident makes.
Pittsburgh has 113 ents (otolaryngologists). The most common credential is MD (73%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville, and Strip District.
The Oakland neighborhood is Pittsburgh's medical hub, home to UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Magee-Womens, and UPMC Children's. Allegheny General Hospital sits on the North Side. Pittsburgh's geography (rivers, bridges, hills) makes cross-city travel unpredictable, so most residents choose the hospital system closest to their neighborhood. The T light rail connects South Hills communities to downtown, but bus routes are the primary transit option for hospital access.
Nearby hospitals include UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside, and Allegheny General Hospital. Local training programs run through University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Carnegie Mellon University. UPMC is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the US, employing over 95,000 people.
The Pittsburgh insurance market is a two-player game: UPMC Health Plan and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Employer plans typically align with one system. On the ACA marketplace, both plans compete on price and network breadth. Medicaid managed care is served by UPMC for You, Highmark Wholecare (formerly Gateway Health), and AmeriHealth Caritas. Choosing between the two plans is, effectively, choosing between the two hospital systems. 62% accept Medicare.
The first visit includes a review of your symptoms and medical history, followed by an examination of your ears, nose, and throat using a headlight and specialized instruments. The ENT may use a flexible scope (passed through the nose) to view your sinuses, throat, or voice box. A hearing test may be performed on site. They will explain findings and discuss treatment options, which may be medical or surgical.
The first question every new Pittsburgh resident should answer: are you on UPMC insurance or Highmark insurance? Your insurance determines which hospital system and physicians are in-network. This is not optional advice; it is the most important healthcare decision you will make here.
See an ENT for chronic sinus infections (more than three per year), hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus), persistent sore throat, frequent nosebleeds, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness lasting more than two weeks, sleep apnea or loud snoring, enlarged tonsils or adenoids in children, a lump in the neck, or ear infections that keep recurring.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Hearing test: $50-250 · Sinus surgery: $5,000-10,000 · Tonsillectomy: $3,000-7,000
Pittsburgh, PA has 113 licensed ents (otolaryngologists). 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of ents (otolaryngologists) in Pittsburgh, PA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
The Pittsburgh insurance market is defined by the UPMC Health Plan and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield rivalry. Employer plans tend to offer one or the other, rarely both. On the ACA marketplace, UPMC Health Plan and Highmark compete directly. Medicaid is administered through UPMC for You, Highmark Wholecare (formerly Gateway Health), and AmeriHealth Caritas.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. A hearing test costs $50 to $250. Sinus surgery runs $5,000 to $10,000. A tonsillectomy costs $3,000 to $7,000. Actual costs in Pittsburgh, PA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Hearing aids are a significant out-of-pocket expense, often $1,000 to $4,000 per ear. Over-the-counter hearing aids (available since 2022) cost significantly less for mild to moderate hearing loss. Ask your ENT about all options.
Pittsburgh healthcare revolves around the UPMC vs. AHN/Highmark divide. UPMC Health Plan members can use UPMC facilities at in-network rates. Highmark members have full access to AHN facilities and limited (though expanding) access to UPMC. Before choosing a primary care doctor, verify that your insurance covers their hospital system.
62% of ents (otolaryngologists) in Pittsburgh, PA accept Medicare. Medicare covers ENT visits and medically necessary procedures. Hearing aids are not covered by Original Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans include hearing aid benefits. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some ents (otolaryngologists) in Pittsburgh, PA accept Pennsylvania Medicaid (MA), the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers ENT services in all states. Hearing aid coverage for adults varies by state. Children typically have broader hearing aid coverage under Medicaid. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Pennsylvania Medicaid (MA) participation before scheduling.
UPMC and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield have been in a long-running business dispute because UPMC operates its own competing insurance plan. As a result, UPMC hospitals and many UPMC physicians are not fully in-network for Highmark insurance members, and vice versa. A consent decree required some continued access, but the terms have evolved. Always verify your coverage before scheduling appointments.
It depends. Under various agreements, some UPMC facilities and physicians remain accessible to Highmark members, particularly for emergency care and certain community hospitals. However, flagship UPMC hospitals like Presbyterian and Shadyside may be out-of-network for Highmark plans. Check with both your insurer and the provider before booking.
Top accepted carriers in Pittsburgh, PA include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-44228, centene, and qhp-58944.
ENT visits are covered as specialist visits under medical insurance. Hearing tests are covered when ordered for medical evaluation. Hearing aids are not covered by most plans, though some states mandate partial coverage. Sinus surgery and tonsillectomy typically require prior authorization. Verify in-network status for both the ENT and any surgical facility.