Compare 1284 radiologists in Chicago, IL. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
1,284
Radiologists
100%
Accepting patients
75%
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 1,284 radiologists. The most common credential is MD (75%). 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.
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 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.
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
Chicago, IL has 1,284 licensed radiologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of radiologists 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 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 Chicago, IL 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.
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, 75% hold the MD credential and 6% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
68% of radiologists in Chicago, IL 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.
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, qhp-54192, cigna, and qhp-17091.
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.