Compare 306 pulmonologists in Chicago, IL. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
306
Pulmonologists
100%
Accepting patients
80%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Chicago is one of the great American medical cities. The Illinois Medical District on the Near West Side is one of the largest urban medical campuses in the country, and the competition between Northwestern, UChicago Medicine, Rush, and Advocate keeps driving specialization deeper. The challenge is that access depends heavily on which side of the city you live on, and the South and West sides have far fewer options than the North Side and downtown.
Chicago has 306 pulmonologists. The most common credential is MD (80%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
The CTA L train connects many neighborhoods to the major hospital campuses. Northwestern and Lurie Children's sit in Streeterville off the Red Line. Rush and the Illinois Medical District are accessible via the Blue and Pink Lines. UChicago Medicine in Hyde Park is reachable by the 6 bus or Metra Electric. North Side residents have easy access to Advocate Illinois Masonic and Swedish Covenant. South Side access gaps are real, and residents in Englewood and Back of the Yards face longer trips for specialty care.
Providers practice throughout Chicago. Lincoln Park is a popular North Side neighborhood near Northwestern's Prentice Women's Hospital and Lurie Children's. Wicker Park is a trendy neighborhood with growing healthcare options and proximity to the Illinois Medical District. Hyde Park is home to the University of Chicago Medical Center, a Level I trauma center and nationally ranked hospital. Gold Coast is an affluent lakefront neighborhood with concierge practices and proximity to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Nearby hospitals include Northwestern Memorial Hospital, University of Chicago Medical Center, and Rush University Medical Center. Local training programs run through Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Chicago's Illinois Medical District is one of the largest urban medical districts in the US, spanning 560 acres.
The first visit includes a review of your symptoms, smoking history, environmental exposures, and current medications. The pulmonologist will listen to your lungs and may order pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which measure how well your lungs move air and exchange oxygen. PFTs involve breathing into a mouthpiece in various patterns. You may also need imaging or a bronchoscopy depending on your symptoms.
If you are new to Chicago, pick your health system based on geography. Northwestern for the North Side and downtown, Rush for the West Side, UChicago for the South Side. Advocate Aurora is the largest system in the suburbs and has a growing city presence.
See a pulmonologist for a chronic cough lasting more than eight weeks, shortness of breath that worsens over time, COPD management, severe or hard-to-control asthma, recurrent pneumonia, abnormal chest imaging (nodules, masses, scarring), coughing up blood, occupational lung exposures (asbestos, silica), or sleep-disordered breathing that a sleep study has confirmed.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Pulmonary function test: $150-500 · Chest CT: $300-3,000 · Bronchoscopy: $1,500-5,000
Chicago's harsh winters mean respiratory infections, frostbite, and falls on icy sidewalks are predictable seasonal patterns. Asthma rates are elevated on the South and West sides, where environmental factors play a role.
Pulmonologists manage moderate to severe asthma, perform pulmonary function testing, and develop treatment plans that reduce flares and keep your airways open.
COPD is a progressive lung condition most commonly caused by smoking. Pulmonologists prescribe inhalers, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oxygen therapy to slow progression and improve quality of life.
Loud snoring, gasping during sleep, and daytime exhaustion may indicate obstructive sleep apnea. Pulmonologists order sleep studies and manage CPAP therapy or other treatments.
A cough that lasts more than eight weeks has a cause, whether it is acid reflux, postnasal drip, asthma, or something else. Pulmonologists work through the differential to find and treat it.
Pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases cause progressive scarring of the lungs. Pulmonologists manage these complex conditions with medication and monitoring to slow disease progression.
Chicago, IL has 306 licensed pulmonologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of pulmonologists in Chicago, IL are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is the dominant carrier in the Chicago market for both employer and individual plans. On the ACA marketplace, Ambetter, Molina, and Oscar compete on price. Medicaid enrollment is high, and CountyCare (Cook County's managed care plan) is a major Medicaid provider.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. Pulmonary function tests cost $150 to $500. A chest CT runs $300 to $3,000. A bronchoscopy costs $1,500 to $5,000. Actual costs in Chicago, IL depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Brand-name inhalers can be expensive ($200 to $500 per month). Generic alternatives exist for many common inhalers. Ask your pulmonologist about cost-effective options and manufacturer savings programs.
Chicago's healthcare market is dominated by four academic systems (Northwestern, UChicago, Rush, Loyola) and two large community systems (Advocate Aurora, Ascension). Most physicians are affiliated with one system, and referrals stay in-network. Access varies by neighborhood: the North Side and downtown have excellent coverage, while the South and West sides have documented provider shortages.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Chicago, IL, 80% hold the MD credential and 6% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
74% of pulmonologists in Chicago, IL accept Medicare. Medicare covers pulmonology visits, PFTs, and pulmonary rehabilitation (up to 36 sessions). Supplemental oxygen and nebulizers are covered under durable medical equipment. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
The Illinois Medical District is a 560-acre campus on Chicago's Near West Side. It includes Rush University Medical Center, the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, UIC Hospital, and several research institutions. It is one of the largest concentrations of healthcare facilities in any American city.
Hospital closures over the past two decades have reduced inpatient capacity on the South Side. UChicago Medicine expanded its trauma center in 2018 to help address the gap, but many South Side residents still travel 30 minutes or more for specialty care. Community health centers like Friend Health and PCC Community Wellness fill some of the primary care gaps.
Top accepted carriers in Chicago, IL include unitedhealthcare, medicare, centene, qhp-44228, and qhp-54192.
Pulmonology visits are covered as specialist visits. PFTs and imaging require prior authorization in many plans. Inhalers can be expensive, with brand-name combination inhalers costing $200 to $500 per month without insurance. Ask about generic alternatives and manufacturer copay programs. Pulmonary rehabilitation is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans with a physician order.