North America · #5 in United States
Dialysis in San Francisco, United States
Travelling to San Francisco and need holiday dialysis while you're there? Below are 2 dialysis centers in and near San Francisco. Tell us your dates and we'll confirm availability and book your sessions.
Dialysis centers in San Francisco
Centers we've identified in or near San Francisco. Confirm availability and details directly — Dialysis Go verifies and books your session as part of arranging your visit.
Get travel medical insurance before you go
Dialysis abroad only works if you're covered for it. Check each policy's wording on pre-existing conditions before you rely on it.
DaVita San Francisco Dialysis
1499 Webster St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 928-1913
Highest-rated hotel nearby: Hotel Drisco — 9.5/10 (72 reviews), 1.3 km away
DaVita Chinatown Dialysis
636 Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Tel: (800) 424-6589
Highest-rated hotel nearby: Omni San Francisco Hotel — 9.0/10 (643 reviews), 200 m away
Planning dialysis in San Francisco
- Centers listed
- 2
- Typical cost per session
- $400–$1,200 (if paying privately)
- Peak season
- Year-round, busiest June–October
- Nearest airport
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Language
- English
Costs are indicative ranges for United States, not quotes. Estimate your whole trip.
Who pays for dialysis in San Francisco?
- US Medicare patients travelling within the US: Medicare covers dialysis at Medicare-certified facilities in any state, on the same terms as at home.
- Medicare Advantage: plans must cover dialysis while you're temporarily outside their service area, but call your plan before you travel to confirm how to arrange it. Private insurance: check whether the destination unit is in network.
- International visitors: there is no reciprocal cover, so you pay the clinic directly — the US is one of the most expensive places to have dialysis. Check your travel insurance covers pre-existing kidney disease.
- Canadian residents: some provincial health plans reimburse part of the cost of dialysis out of the country. Check the rate and paperwork with your province before you travel.
When to book
Book 4–6 weeks ahead within the US, longer for peak season. Your home unit's social worker can send your records to the visiting unit. Peak season in San Francisco: Year-round, busiest June–October.
Emergency numbers in San Francisco
In an emergency, call 911 for an ambulance. Tell the operator you're on dialysis and which unit treats you, and keep your access details and medication list with you.
911Ambulance, police and fire911 works from any phone, including foreign mobiles on roaming. Ambulance rides are billed in the US, so keep your travel insurance details handy.
What the unit in San Francisco will ask for
- Your current dialysis prescription (dialyser, dry weight, access, anticoagulation).
- Blood results from the last 4–6 weeks, including virology (hepatitis B and C, HIV).
- Records from your last few sessions and a current medication list.
- A referral or fit-to-travel letter from your nephrologist.
- An MRSA screen and recent ECG, if the unit asks for them.
Each unit has its own list — read the full travel guide or check entry requirements for United States.
Wheelchair rental in San Francisco
Long days, dialysis fatigue and unfamiliar streets add up. Renting a wheelchair or mobility scooter for your stay in San Francisco saves your energy for the things you came to do.
- Book a few weeks ahead in peak season and ask for delivery to your hotel, so the chair is waiting when you arrive.
- Tell the supplier your weight, seat width and how you'll use it — a lightweight folding chair for taxis, or a power chair or scooter for longer distances.
- Ask your airline for free wheelchair assistance at both airports when you book your flight; it's separate from renting a chair for your stay.
- Check the dialysis unit and your hotel have step-free access, and whether the unit can lend a chair between the entrance and your station.
Dialysis in San Francisco: common questions
- Is there a dialysis center in San Francisco?
- Yes. We list 2 dialysis centers in and near San Francisco: DaVita San Francisco Dialysis and DaVita Chinatown Dialysis.
- How much does holiday dialysis cost in San Francisco?
- If you're paying privately, expect roughly $400–$1,200 per haemodialysis session in United States. Among the most expensive destinations for visiting-patient dialysis. The clinic sets the exact price, and we confirm it with you before anything is booked.
- Does Medicare cover dialysis in San Francisco?
- US Medicare patients travelling within the US: Medicare covers dialysis at Medicare-certified facilities in any state, on the same terms as at home. Medicare Advantage: plans must cover dialysis while you're temporarily outside their service area, but call your plan before you travel to confirm how to arrange it. Private insurance: check whether the destination unit is in network.
- How far ahead should I book dialysis in San Francisco?
- Book 4–6 weeks ahead within the US, longer for peak season. Your home unit's social worker can send your records to the visiting unit. Peak season in San Francisco is year-round, busiest June–October.
- Which airport is closest to San Francisco?
- San Francisco International (SFO). Try to book your first session within a day or two of landing so you don't go too long between treatments.
- What is the emergency number in San Francisco?
- Call 911 for an ambulance in San Francisco (ambulance, police and fire). Tell the operator you're on dialysis and keep your access details and medication list with you.
- Can I rent a wheelchair in San Francisco?
- Yes — mobility equipment suppliers in and around San Francisco rent manual wheelchairs, power chairs and scooters by the day or week, and many deliver to your hotel. Book ahead in peak season, and ask your airline separately for free wheelchair assistance at the airport.
Large national chains in every state. Peak-season resort areas (Florida, California, Hawaii) fill up, so book early. Holiday dialysis across United States.