Compare 158 pulmonologists in Seattle, WA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
158
Pulmonologists
100%
Accepting patients
81%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Seattle is home to one of the country's deepest concentrations of medical research and clinical talent. UW Medicine anchors the academic side, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a global leader in oncology, and Swedish Medical Center (now part of Providence) operates the largest community hospital network in the metro. The city also has a strong tradition of community health centers serving immigrant and underserved populations.
Seattle has 158 pulmonologists. The most common credential is MD (81%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Seattle's medical geography centers on First Hill, sometimes called "Pill Hill," where Swedish, Harborview, and Virginia Mason cluster within a few blocks. UW Medical Center and Seattle Children's sit further north in the University District. The Link light rail connects Capitol Hill and the U-District to downtown, making hospital access by transit feasible. Crossing Lake Washington to the Eastside adds 20 to 40 minutes depending on bridge traffic.
Providers practice throughout Seattle. Capitol Hill is swedish Medical Center's First Hill campus and several LGBTQ+ affirming practices serve this dense, vibrant neighborhood. Fremont is a quirky neighborhood with growing healthcare options and proximity to UW Medical Center. Ballard is swedish Ballard campus provides community hospital care in this waterfront neighborhood. Queen Anne is lower Queen Anne is near the South Lake Union medical corridor and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Nearby hospitals include UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, and Swedish Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle University. UW Medicine is ranked among the top 10 medical schools in the US for primary care, serving a five-state region.
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.
UW Medicine, Swedish (Providence), and Kaiser Permanente are the three main systems. If you work for a large Seattle employer (Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing), your benefits likely favor one system. Check your network before scheduling.
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
Despite the health-conscious reputation, Seattle has notable rates of vitamin D deficiency due to limited sun exposure. Primary care doctors here routinely test for it and recommend supplementation.
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.
Seattle, WA has 158 licensed pulmonologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of pulmonologists in Seattle, WA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Premera Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield are the two dominant commercial carriers in Washington State. Kaiser Permanente has a closed network. Apple Health (Washington Medicaid) is accepted at Harborview, UW Neighborhood Clinics, and most community health centers.
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 Seattle, WA 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.
Seattle has three major systems: UW Medicine (academic), Swedish/Providence (community), and Kaiser Permanente (integrated). Harborview Medical Center (run by UW) is the region's only Level I trauma center. Your employer's insurance plan is the best starting point for choosing a system.
70% of pulmonologists in Seattle, WA 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.
Some pulmonologists in Seattle, WA accept Apple Health, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers pulmonology services in all states. Inhaler coverage varies by state formulary. Prior authorization is common for newer biologic asthma medications. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Apple Health participation before scheduling.
First Hill is the neighborhood just east of downtown Seattle where Swedish Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, and Virginia Mason are clustered. The nickname comes from this dense concentration of hospitals and medical offices.
Yes, but traffic matters. I-90 and SR-520 bridges connect the Eastside to Seattle, but commute times can double during rush hours. Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue and EvergreenHealth in Kirkland provide strong local options so you don't always need to cross the lake.
Top accepted carriers in Seattle, WA include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-38344, qhp-56707, and centene.
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.