Compare 3 transplant surgeons in San Diego, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
3
Transplant Surgeons
100%
Accepting patients
100%
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 3 transplant surgeons. The most common credential is MD (100%). 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.
The transplant evaluation is extensive, spanning multiple days and involving medical testing (blood work, imaging, cardiac testing), psychological evaluation, social work assessment, financial counseling, and educational sessions. The transplant surgeon will explain the procedure, risks, expected outcomes, and the lifelong commitment to immunosuppressive medications. If approved, you are placed on the transplant waiting list managed by UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing). Wait times vary by organ, blood type, and geographic region.
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.
See a transplant surgeon when you are being evaluated for organ transplant listing (end-stage kidney disease, liver failure, heart failure, lung disease), when you are interested in being a living donor, or when you have been referred by your specialist (nephrologist, hepatologist, cardiologist) for transplant evaluation. Transplant teams include surgeons, physicians, coordinators, social workers, and other specialists who evaluate candidates as a group.
Transplant evaluation: covered by insurance · Kidney transplant: $250,000-400,000 · Liver transplant: $500,000-800,000 · Immunosuppressive medications: $1,000-3,000/month
San Diego, CA has 3 licensed transplant surgeons. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of transplant surgeons 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.
Transplant costs are among the highest in medicine. Kidney transplant costs $250,000 to $400,000. Liver transplant costs $500,000 to $800,000. Heart transplant costs $800,000 to $1.4 million. These figures include evaluation, surgery, hospital stay, and first-year medications. Actual costs in San Diego, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Transplant costs are typically covered by insurance, including Medicare for kidney transplant patients. The transplant center has a financial coordinator who helps navigate coverage. Immunosuppressive medications cost $1,000 to $3,000 per month and are required for life. Ask about patient assistance programs for ongoing medication costs.
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.
100% of transplant surgeons in San Diego, CA accept Medicare. Medicare covers organ transplants at Medicare-approved transplant centers. Part A covers the hospital stay. Part B covers the surgeon and outpatient visits. Medicare Part B covers immunosuppressive drugs for 36 months post-transplant (lifetime coverage for those with Part B who enrolled due to ESRD). You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some transplant surgeons in San Diego, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers organ transplants in all states, though the list of covered organs varies. Prior authorization is required. Post-transplant immunosuppressive medications are generally covered. 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-93078, qhp-89364, and qhp-74917.
Organ transplantation is covered by medical insurance, including Medicare (which covers kidney transplants for all end-stage renal disease patients regardless of age). Transplant evaluation, surgery, hospital stay, and immunosuppressive medications are all covered benefits. Post-transplant medications are lifelong and expensive. Medicare covers immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients. For other organs, coverage varies by plan. Financial counselors at transplant centers help navigate coverage.