Compare 317 general surgeons in Washington, DC. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
317
General Surgeons
100%
Accepting patients
80%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
DC's healthcare system reflects the city itself: politically connected, resource-rich, and deeply unequal. Three medical schools and a roster of nationally ranked hospitals coexist with some of the widest health disparity gaps in the country between Wards. The NIH Clinical Center in nearby Bethesda and Walter Reed add a federal layer that no other US city can match. If you know how to navigate the system, the depth of specialty care here is remarkable.
Washington has 317 general surgeons. The most common credential is MD (80%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
GW University Hospital is in Foggy Bottom near the Metro. MedStar Georgetown is in Georgetown (limited transit access, plan for parking or rideshare). MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the city's largest hospital, is in the northeast along Irving Street. Children's National is nearby on Michigan Avenue. The Metro Red Line connects to the Bethesda medical corridor (NIH, Walter Reed, Suburban Hospital). Most specialist offices cluster in Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and along Connecticut Avenue NW.
Providers practice throughout Washington. Georgetown is medStar Georgetown University Hospital anchors healthcare in this historic neighborhood. Specialty practices line M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Dupont Circle is a central neighborhood with a high density of private practices, particularly in behavioral health and primary care. Whitman-Walker Health provides LGBTQ+ affirming care. Capitol Hill is near MedStar Washington Hospital Center and several congressional health offices. Providence Health serves the eastern neighborhoods. Adams Morgan is a diverse neighborhood with bilingual healthcare options and community health centers. Short commute to Dupont Circle medical offices.
Nearby hospitals include MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Local training programs run through Georgetown University School of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine. Washington, DC has one of the highest concentrations of physicians per capita in the United States, driven by its medical schools, research institutions, and federal agencies like the NIH and FDA.
The consultation includes a review of your symptoms, imaging, and lab results. The surgeon will perform a focused physical exam and discuss whether surgery is recommended, what the procedure involves, risks and benefits, expected recovery time, and alternatives. Many general surgery procedures are now done laparoscopically (small incisions, camera-guided), meaning shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.
DC's healthcare system crosses three jurisdictions (DC, Maryland, Virginia), and your insurance network may not cover providers across state lines. If your doctor is in Bethesda or Arlington, verify your plan covers out-of-District providers. MedStar, GW, and Georgetown each use separate patient portals.
See a general surgeon for gallbladder problems (gallstones), hernias (inguinal, umbilical, incisional), appendicitis, breast lumps or biopsies, colon polyps too large for endoscopic removal, skin lesions requiring excision, thyroid nodules requiring surgery, abscesses needing drainage, and any abdominal condition your doctor believes needs surgical evaluation.
Consultation copay: $30-75 · Gallbladder removal: $5,000-15,000 · Hernia repair: $3,000-10,000 · Appendectomy: $5,000-20,000
Washington, DC has 317 licensed general surgeons. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of general surgeons in Washington, DC are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
DC Health Link is the District's ACA marketplace, with plans from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. DC Medicaid covers a broader population than most states, with eligibility up to 210 percent of the federal poverty level for adults. If you live in DC but work in Maryland or Virginia (or vice versa), your employer plan may have different network rules than a DC-based marketplace plan.
A surgical consultation copay is $40 to $75. Hernia repair costs $3,000 to $7,000 (facility + surgeon). Gallbladder removal runs $5,000 to $12,000. Appendectomy costs $5,000 to $15,000. Actual costs in Washington, DC depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Surgical costs involve multiple bills: surgeon fee, anesthesiologist fee, facility fee, pathology, and possibly assistant surgeon. Ask for a bundled estimate in advance. Out-of-network anesthesiologists at in-network facilities are a common surprise bill.
DC healthcare is organized around MedStar Health (Georgetown and Washington Hospital Center), GW Health, and Children's National. Sibley Memorial Hospital in northwest DC is a Johns Hopkins affiliate. The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients through research protocols, not standard insurance. Because the metro area spans DC, Maryland, and Virginia, always check whether your provider is in-network for your specific plan and jurisdiction.
51% of general surgeons in Washington, DC accept Medicare. Medicare Part B covers surgical consultations, and Part A covers inpatient surgical procedures. The surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and facility charges are typically separate bills. Standard deductible and coinsurance apply. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
You will typically have one pre-operative consultation, the surgery itself, and then follow-up visits at one week, two weeks, and six weeks post-op. Complex cases may require additional follow-ups over several months. With 317 general surgeons in Washington, DC, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Yes. Insurance networks often differ across the three jurisdictions. A DC-based plan may not cover a provider in Bethesda or Arlington at in-network rates, even if they are only a few miles away. MedStar and Kaiser operate across all three jurisdictions, which simplifies things. Always verify your provider's network status for your specific plan.
The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients who qualify for specific research studies, not through standard insurance referrals. If you have a condition that is being actively studied at NIH, your doctor can refer you for a screening. ClinicalTrials.gov lists active NIH studies. There is no cost to patients accepted into NIH studies.
GW Hospital (Foggy Bottom), MedStar Georgetown (Georgetown), and MedStar Washington Hospital Center (northeast DC) are the three main adult emergency departments in the District. Children's National handles pediatric emergencies. MedStar Washington Hospital Center is the region's only Level I adult trauma center.
Top accepted carriers in Washington, DC include unitedhealthcare, medicare, anthem, centene, and qhp-17091.
Surgical consultations and procedures are covered under medical insurance. Most surgeries require prior authorization. Verify that both the surgeon and the surgical facility (hospital or ambulatory surgery center) are in-network. Ambulatory surgery centers often have lower facility fees than hospitals for the same procedure. Ask about total estimated costs including surgeon, facility, and anesthesia fees.