Compare 748 radiologists in San Diego, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
748
Radiologists
100%
Accepting patients
84%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
San Diego's healthcare runs on three competing systems: UC San Diego Health, Scripps Health, and Sharp HealthCare. Between them, they cover the county pretty thoroughly. The biotech corridor in Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley also means clinical trials are unusually accessible here for a city this size.
San Diego has 748 radiologists. The most common credential is MD (84%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
San Diego sprawls north-south along the coast, so healthcare access depends heavily on which part of the county you live in. The Hillcrest-Mission Valley corridor is the densest medical zone. North County residents look to Scripps Encinitas and Palomar Health in Escondido. South Bay patients use Sharp Chula Vista or cross into the Hillcrest hub. The trolley connects downtown to some hospital areas, but most patients drive.
Providers practice throughout San Diego. La Jolla is uC San Diego Health and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla make this a hub for specialty and research-driven care. Gaslamp Quarter is downtown providers serve the urban core, with Sharp Memorial and UC San Diego Health a short drive away. Pacific Beach is a younger, active community with walk-in clinics and easy access to Scripps and Sharp hospital systems. Hillcrest is home to Scripps Mercy Hospital and a strong network of LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare providers.
Nearby hospitals include UC San Diego Health, Scripps Mercy Hospital, and Sharp Memorial Hospital. Local training programs run through University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and San Diego State University. San Diego is a major biotech hub with over 1,100 life sciences companies in the region.
For imaging studies, you will check in at the radiology department, change into a gown if needed, and the technologist will perform the scan. The radiologist reads the images afterward and sends a report to your doctor, usually within 24 to 48 hours. For interventional procedures, you will meet the radiologist beforehand, discuss the procedure and risks, and receive sedation or local anesthesia. Afterward, you will be monitored briefly before going home.
If you're new to San Diego, pick a primary care doctor within one of the three big systems (UCSD, Scripps, or Sharp) before you need one. Walk-in urgent care is widely available, but establishing a PCP makes specialist access much faster.
You typically do not schedule a visit with a radiologist directly. Your treating physician orders imaging, and a radiologist interprets it. However, you may see an interventional radiologist for image-guided biopsies, tumor ablation, angioplasty, embolization, or drain placement. For screening mammography, you interact with the breast imaging radiologist through the mammography center.
X-ray: $50-300 · CT scan: $300-3,000 · MRI: $500-3,500 · Mammogram: $0 (preventive) or $100-500
San Diego, CA has 748 licensed radiologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of radiologists in San Diego, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Employer plans in San Diego lean toward Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and Kaiser (which operates its own facilities in Kearny Mesa and Clairemont). Medi-Cal is managed through San Diego County's Health and Human Services. Covered California offers multiple plan options, with Molina and Blue Shield as common choices.
An X-ray costs $50 to $300. A CT scan runs $300 to $3,000. An MRI costs $500 to $3,500. A screening mammogram is $0 (preventive). Actual costs in San Diego, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Outpatient imaging centers often charge significantly less than hospital-based radiology for the same study. Ask your doctor if a freestanding center is an option. Verify the facility and reading radiologist are both in-network.
San Diego healthcare is dominated by three systems: UC San Diego Health (academic, research-focused), Scripps Health (five hospital campuses, strong cardiology), and Sharp HealthCare (the largest system by patient volume). Most specialists are affiliated with one of these three, so your choice of PCP often determines your referral path.
77% of radiologists in San Diego, CA accept Medicare. Medicare covers diagnostic imaging when ordered by a physician. Screening mammograms are covered annually at no cost. CT and MRI may require prior authorization. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some radiologists in San Diego, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers medically necessary imaging in all states. Prior authorization is common for advanced studies like MRI, CT, and PET scans. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Medi-Cal participation before scheduling.
San Diego has one of the highest concentrations of TRICARE-accepting providers in the country, given the large military presence (Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar). Most major systems and many independent practices accept TRICARE Prime and Select.
North County (Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido) has grown faster than its healthcare infrastructure. Scripps Encinitas and Palomar Health are the main hospital systems. Primary care wait times can be longer than in central San Diego, especially for new patients. Urgent care centers fill some of the gap.
Top accepted carriers in San Diego, CA include medicare, unitedhealthcare, qhp-33602, qhp-17091, and cigna.
Imaging is ordered by your treating physician and covered under your medical insurance. Many studies require prior authorization, especially MRI, CT, and PET scans. The imaging facility may bill separately from the radiologist who reads the study. Verify both are in-network. Outpatient imaging centers often cost significantly less than hospital-based imaging for the same study.