Compare 89 primary care physicians in St. Louis, MO. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
89
Primary Care Physicians
100%
Accepting patients
84%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
St. Louis punches above its weight in healthcare, anchored by Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, consistently ranked among the top ten hospitals in the country. The city also benefits from Saint Louis University's medical school and a deep bench of community hospitals operated by SSM Health and Mercy. With more hospital beds per capita than nearly any other US city, capacity is rarely the issue here. Finding the right fit within those systems is.
St. Louis has 89 primary care physicians. The most common credential is MD (84%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Central West End, Soulard, The Hill, and Tower Grove.
The Washington University Medical Campus and Barnes-Jewish Hospital sit in the Central West End, which is the city's primary medical district. SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is just south of downtown. Mercy Hospital St. Louis is in west St. Louis County near Creve Coeur. MetroLink light rail has a station at the Central West End, providing direct transit access to Barnes-Jewish. Most patients outside the city core drive, with I-64 and I-44 connecting the major hospital campuses.
Nearby hospitals include Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Local training programs run through Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Barnes-Jewish Hospital, affiliated with Washington University, is consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare are the dominant commercial carriers in the St. Louis metro. Ambetter is the largest ACA marketplace presence. BJC HealthCare participates in most employer plans but is excluded from some narrow-network marketplace offerings. MO HealthNet (Medicaid) enrollment is significant, with managed care through Home State Health and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. 47% accept Medicare.
A first visit with a new PCP takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Expect a review of your full medical history, current medications, family history, and lifestyle habits. The doctor will perform a physical exam and may order blood work or other baseline tests. You will leave with a plan for any immediate issues and a schedule for preventive screenings.
Barnes-Jewish and Washington University use the MyChart portal. If you are new to the BJC HealthCare network, register for MyChart early to manage scheduling and records. SLU Health uses a separate portal. Bring printed records if transferring between the two systems.
See your PCP for annual physicals, vaccinations, persistent symptoms (cough, fatigue, pain), management of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, new health concerns that do not require emergency care, mental health prescriptions (antidepressants, anti-anxiety), and referrals to specialists. They are your first stop for nearly any non-emergency health issue.
Annual physical: $0 (preventive, covered) · Sick visit copay: $20-50 · Blood work: $100-500 (often covered preventive)
St. Louis sits in a zone of significant seasonal allergens, with tree pollen in spring, grass in summer, and ragweed in fall. Mold from the Mississippi River floodplain is an additional trigger. The region also falls within the "asthma belt" of the central US, and pediatric asthma rates in the city are above the national average.
Annual physicals catch problems early when treatment is simplest. Your primary care doctor screens for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions based on your age, gender, and risk factors.
High blood pressure rarely has symptoms, which is why regular monitoring matters. Your primary care doctor manages lifestyle changes and medication to keep your numbers in a healthy range.
Primary care doctors manage type 2 diabetes through medication, lifestyle coaching, and regular lab monitoring. They refer to endocrinology for complex or insulin-dependent cases.
Sinus infections, strep throat, urinary tract infections, and respiratory illness are the bread and butter of primary care. Your doctor diagnoses the cause and prescribes treatment to get you feeling better quickly.
Abnormal cholesterol levels are a major contributor to heart disease. Your primary care doctor orders lipid panels, recommends lifestyle changes, and prescribes statins or other medications when needed.
St. Louis, MO has 89 licensed primary care physicians. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of primary care physicians in St. Louis, MO are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Missouri residents use HealthCare.gov for ACA marketplace plans. Ambetter, Anthem, and Aetna offer plans in the St. Louis area. MO HealthNet is the state Medicaid program. Employer-sponsored plans often include BJC, Mercy, and SSM in-network, but always verify. The St. Louis metro also extends into Illinois, so residents in the Metro East may have different plan options.
Annual physicals are covered at no cost under most insurance plans. Sick visit copays range from $20 to $50. Blood work can cost $100 to $500, though preventive labs are often covered. Actual costs in St. Louis, MO depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Annual wellness visits are covered at 100% under the Affordable Care Act with no copay or deductible. Verify your provider is in-network to maximize coverage.
St. Louis healthcare is organized around BJC HealthCare (Barnes-Jewish and affiliated hospitals), SSM Health (Saint Louis University Hospital and community hospitals), and Mercy. BJC/Washington University is the academic powerhouse for specialty referrals. SSM and Mercy operate broader community networks. Your insurance plan's network will determine which system is most affordable, and narrow-network plans that exclude BJC/WashU are common on the ACA marketplace.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In St. Louis, MO, 84% hold the MD credential and 10% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
47% of primary care physicians in St. Louis, MO accept Medicare. Medicare covers an Annual Wellness Visit at no cost, plus most preventive screenings. Sick visits and chronic disease management are covered under Part B with standard cost-sharing. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a separate institution from Washington University, but they are closely affiliated. Washington University physicians staff Barnes-Jewish, and the medical campus is shared. Together they form the BJC HealthCare system. When people refer to "Wash U Medicine," they usually mean the combined academic and clinical enterprise.
St. Louis City and St. Louis County are separate jurisdictions, which can affect Medicaid eligibility, public health services, and some community programs. Most hospital systems and private practices serve both areas regardless of the boundary. If you are on MO HealthNet, confirm your provider accepts patients from your specific jurisdiction.
Top accepted carriers in St. Louis, MO include medicare, unitedhealthcare, qhp-44228, centene, and qhp-21333.
Annual wellness visits are covered at 100% with no copay under most insurance plans, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Sick visits and follow-ups have copays or coinsurance. Verify your PCP is in-network, as out-of-network visits cost significantly more. Many plans require you to select a PCP to serve as your care coordinator.