Compare 37 rheumatologists in Tampa, FL. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
37
Rheumatologists
100%
Accepting patients
81%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Tampa punches above its weight in healthcare because of two anchors: Tampa General Hospital, the region's only Level I trauma center, and Moffitt Cancer Center, Florida's only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. USF Health ties them together with a research pipeline that keeps attracting specialists to the area.
Tampa has 37 rheumatologists. The most common credential is MD (81%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
The medical core sits along the Bayshore corridor from Davis Islands to the USF campus, roughly a 20-minute drive when traffic cooperates. South Tampa residents are close to Tampa General, while north Tampa and New Tampa neighborhoods gravitate toward AdventHealth and St. Joseph's. The Selmon Expressway and I-275 are the main arteries to hospital campuses.
Providers practice throughout Tampa. Hyde Park is an upscale South Tampa neighborhood with specialty practices and close proximity to Tampa General Hospital. Ybor City is a historic district east of downtown with community clinics and quick access to Tampa General. Seminole Heights is a revitalizing neighborhood with growing healthcare options and proximity to AdventHealth Tampa. South Tampa is a family-focused area near Tampa General Hospital and the Bayshore medical corridor.
Nearby hospitals include Tampa General Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, and AdventHealth Tampa. Local training programs run through University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and University of Tampa. Moffitt Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida.
The first visit takes 45 to 60 minutes. The rheumatologist will perform a detailed joint exam (checking for swelling, warmth, and tenderness in every joint), review your blood work, and take a thorough history of your symptoms including when they started, what triggers them, and how they have progressed. They may order additional labs, X-rays, or ultrasound. Treatment plans often involve medication adjustments over several visits to find the right combination.
If you are new to the area, the BayCare and AdventHealth systems each have patient navigators who can match you with a primary care doctor accepting new patients in your ZIP code.
See a rheumatologist for persistent joint pain or swelling in multiple joints, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, unexplained rashes combined with joint pain, positive autoimmune blood tests (ANA, rheumatoid factor), gout attacks, chronic widespread pain or fatigue your PCP suspects is fibromyalgia, or any condition where your immune system appears to be causing inflammation.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Rheumatoid factor/ANA panel: $100-300 · Biologic infusion: $1,000-5,000 per treatment · Joint ultrasound: $200-500
Allergy season in Tampa effectively runs year-round, with tree pollen in spring, grass in summer, and ragweed in fall. Mold counts spike after summer storms. Allergists stay busy.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that attacks the joints. Rheumatologists prescribe disease-modifying drugs early to prevent joint damage and manage the condition long-term.
Lupus can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Rheumatologists manage flares, monitor organ involvement, and adjust treatment to keep the disease under control.
Wear-and-tear arthritis causes joint pain and stiffness that worsens over time. Rheumatologists help distinguish it from inflammatory arthritis and develop management plans that keep you active.
Sudden, intense joint pain (often in the big toe) may be gout. Rheumatologists confirm the diagnosis, treat acute flares, and prescribe long-term uric acid-lowering therapy to prevent future attacks.
Widespread pain, fatigue, and brain fog that cannot be explained by other conditions may be fibromyalgia. Rheumatologists diagnose it, rule out other causes, and create a multifaceted treatment plan.
Tampa, FL has 37 licensed rheumatologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of rheumatologists in Tampa, FL are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Florida Blue and UnitedHealthcare dominate the Tampa Bay employer market. On the ACA marketplace, Ambetter and Molina offer the most affordable plans, though their networks can be narrower. Verify that your preferred hospital system is in-network before enrolling.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. A rheumatoid factor/ANA panel costs $100 to $300. Biologic infusions cost $1,000 to $5,000 per treatment. Joint ultrasound runs $200 to $500. Actual costs in Tampa, FL depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Biologic medications are the biggest cost driver in rheumatology. Biosimilars (generic-equivalent biologics) can significantly reduce costs. Manufacturer copay programs can bring patient costs down to $5 to $25 per month. Ask your rheumatologist about all financial assistance options.
Tampa's healthcare market is dominated by three systems: BayCare, AdventHealth, and Tampa General/USF Health. Most primary care physicians are affiliated with one of these networks, so choosing a PCP often means choosing a system for referrals and hospital access.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Tampa, FL, 81% hold the MD credential and 8% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
81% of rheumatologists in Tampa, FL accept Medicare. Medicare covers rheumatology visits and medically necessary treatments, including biologic infusions administered in the office (Part B). Oral biologic medications are covered under Part D. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Yes, Moffitt is exclusively a cancer treatment and research center. It does not provide general medical care, but it accepts referrals from any physician in the state. You do not need to be a Tampa resident to seek treatment there.
Active-duty members use the MacDill clinic and TRICARE network. Veterans and military families can access James A. Haley Veterans Hospital on the north side of Tampa, or find TRICARE-accepting civilian providers through the BayCare and AdventHealth networks.
Top accepted carriers in Tampa, FL include medicare, qhp-16842, unitedhealthcare, qhp-17091, and molina.
Rheumatology visits are covered as specialist visits. Biologic medications (Humira, Enbrel, Rinvoq, etc.) are expensive, often $2,000 to $6,000 per month before insurance. Most are covered under specialty pharmacy benefits with prior authorization. Manufacturer copay assistance programs can dramatically reduce out-of-pocket costs. Your rheumatologist's office typically handles authorization paperwork.