Compare 230 pathologists in San Francisco, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
230
Pathologists
100%
Accepting patients
64%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
San Francisco punches well above its weight in healthcare. UCSF is a top-10 national hospital, and the city's 95%+ insurance coverage rate is among the highest anywhere. The tradeoff is cost: provider fees here reflect the city's overall cost of living, and even insured patients can face significant out-of-pocket expenses.
San Francisco has 230 pathologists. The most common credential is MD (64%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
SF is compact enough that most residents are within 20 minutes of a major hospital. UCSF's two main campuses (Parnassus and Mission Bay) anchor the western and eastern halves of the city. California Pacific Medical Center on Van Ness serves the northern neighborhoods. Muni and BART make car-free healthcare access genuinely possible here, which is unusual for a US city.
Providers practice throughout San Francisco. Mission District is a vibrant, diverse neighborhood with community health centers serving a large Latino population. Pacific Heights is an affluent neighborhood with concierge practices and proximity to CPMC and UCSF. SoMa is the South of Market area is close to Zuckerberg SF General, a Level I trauma center. Castro is a historic LGBTQ+ neighborhood with strong affirming care options and community clinics.
Nearby hospitals include UCSF Medical Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and California Pacific Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and University of San Francisco. UCSF Medical Center is among the top 10 hospitals in the nation, specializing in cancer and neurology.
Most patients never meet their pathologist. Your biopsy sample is sent to the pathology lab, processed, stained, and examined under a microscope. The pathologist writes a detailed report describing what they see and providing a diagnosis. This report goes to your treating doctor within a few days. If you request a second opinion on pathology, the original slides are sent to another pathologist for independent review.
Many SF primary care practices are panel-closed, meaning they aren't accepting new patients. If you're new to the city, try UCSF's primary care network or One Medical (now part of Amazon), which has multiple SF locations and shorter wait times.
You generally do not schedule visits with a pathologist. They work behind the scenes. Your treating physician may request a pathology consultation for complex cases. Second opinions on pathology slides (especially cancer diagnoses) can be requested through your doctor. Some pathologists run specialized clinics for blood disorders or coagulation problems.
Biopsy interpretation: $100-500 · Surgical pathology (complex): $500-2,000 · Molecular/genetic testing: $300-5,000+ · Blood panel: $50-300
San Francisco, CA has 230 licensed pathologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of pathologists in San Francisco, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
SF has Healthy San Francisco, a city program that provides basic healthcare access for uninsured residents regardless of immigration status. For employer coverage, Kaiser, Blue Shield, and Anthem are the most common carriers. Medi-Cal managed care runs through SF Health Plan. Covered California participation is strong.
Biopsy interpretation costs $100 to $500. Complex surgical pathology runs $500 to $2,000. Molecular or genetic testing costs $300 to $5,000 or more. Actual costs in San Francisco, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Pathology charges are often included in your surgical or procedural billing. Complex molecular testing (gene panels) may require separate prior authorization. Verify that the lab processing your specimen is in-network.
In San Francisco, the main healthcare systems are UCSF Health (academic, highly specialized), Sutter/CPMC (broad community coverage across four campuses), Kaiser Permanente (closed network with its own facilities on Geary), and Zuckerberg SF General (the city's public safety-net hospital). Your insurance plan will often determine which system you use.
57% of pathologists in San Francisco, CA accept Medicare. Medicare covers pathology services as part of diagnostic testing. Biopsy interpretation, lab work, and molecular testing are covered when medically indicated. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some pathologists in San Francisco, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers pathology services in all states as part of medically necessary diagnostic care. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Medi-Cal participation before scheduling.
Healthy San Francisco is a city-funded program that provides healthcare access to uninsured San Francisco residents, including undocumented immigrants. It covers primary care, prescriptions, and hospital visits through the SF Department of Public Health network. It's not insurance, but it fills a real gap for residents who don't qualify for other coverage.
Many SF primary care panels are full, especially in popular neighborhoods like the Marina, Pacific Heights, and Noe Valley. UCSF and Sutter/CPMC periodically open new patient slots. One Medical and Carbon Health offer membership-based primary care with same-day availability. Community health centers also accept new patients on a rolling basis.
Top accepted carriers in San Francisco, CA include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-54192, centene, and qhp-58944.
Pathology services are billed as part of your medical care. Biopsy interpretation is typically covered under surgical or diagnostic benefits. Lab work is covered under your lab benefits. Second-opinion pathology reviews may have additional costs. Complex molecular testing (gene panels for cancer) requires prior authorization and can be expensive. Verify that your pathology lab is in-network.