Eight practices with San Diego County offices publish a price for evaluating an adult for ADHD. They run from $400 for the first month of a psychiatric membership to $5,000 at the top of one testing range.
San Diego has a middle option the other big counties mostly lack: two psychologist-run, adults-only ADHD evaluations priced around $1,400 that end in a short diagnostic summary rather than a full testing report. That is often all an adult needs to start treatment.¹ Pay for full testing when a second question needs answering, or when a school or exam board asks for a complete report.
What San Diego County practices publish
How a practice is listed: it has an office in San Diego County, and its own site publishes a price for an adult ADHD evaluation or an adult evaluation that includes ADHD. Read on November 6, 2026. No one paid or was asked; a listing is not a recommendation. Rows run from lowest published price. Practices with no published price, or not taking new patients, are not here.
Visit-based evaluations: a clinician who can prescribe
| Practice | Published price | What it is | Insurance, as published | Wait, as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevated Psychiatry — 2305 Historic Decatur Rd, Point Loma. Psychiatric nurse practitioner. | $400 first month, then $99 a month (its pricing page says $450) | A 60–90 minute evaluation with a computerized cognitive test; mostly virtual | Out of network; no Medicare or Medi-Cal | "Same-week appointment guaranteed" |
| San Diego Adult ADHD Anxiety & Depression Center — 4438 Ingraham St, Pacific Beach. Psychiatrist. | Intake $500; follow-ups $300 | A 1–2 hour office intake with a psychiatrist | "All services are self-pay only" | Not published |
| Celium Healthcare — 10620 Treena St, San Diego. Psychiatric nurse practitioner. | Initial evaluation $550; follow-up $325 | A one-hour intake in person or by video; adults 21 and over | In network with UnitedHealthcare and ComPsych; no Medi-Cal or Medicare | "Usually seen within two weeks" |
Psychological testing
| Practice | Published price | What it is | Insurance, as published | Wait, as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transcend Behavioral Health — Park Blvd, Navajo Rd and Hibert St, San Diego. MD or PhD clinical psychologist. | $1,395 adults only (23 and over) | A short summary report "which can be used to share with a provider for medication"; no follow-up session | The psychologist is cash pay only | Not published |
| The ADHD Center for Success (Dr. Lori Rappaport) — 12625 High Bluff Dr, Carmel Valley. Clinical psychologist. | $1,450 adults only | A 5–6 page summary report; can be done by telehealth | No insurance | Not published |
| Psychological assessment practice, 9666 Businesspark Ave — Scripps Ranch. Psychologists. | $2,200; $3,000 for ADHD with autism | Intake, testing sessions, report, feedback; some testing must be in person | In network with Aetna, Anthem, Cigna/Evernorth, Optum, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare | First testing session within 1–2 weeks of intake |
| Wander — 2404 Broadway, Golden Hill. Licensed psychologist. | $3,000 package | A full battery to rule ADHD, autism and other conditions in or out; interviews, report, feedback | Not contracted with any insurer; superbill for PPO | Testing "always starts right away" |
| Coastal Therapy Group — Carlsbad, Encinitas and Vista. Psychologist. | $3,000–$5,000 | Consultation, interview, testing, report, feedback; attention tests in Vista | Out of network with all plans | 1–2 weeks from booking to first session |
What the tables show
- Two of eight take insurance for the evaluation: the Businesspark Ave practice (six plans, including Tricare) and Celium (UnitedHealthcare, ComPsych). For military families on Tricare, that is the one published in-network option we found.
- None takes Medi-Cal. On Medi-Cal, start with your plan, below.
- The two $1,400 adult evaluations are short by design. They answer "is this ADHD?" and stop. If you need accommodations at school or work, ask whether their report will be accepted before you pay.
Start with your plan
San Diego County's Medi-Cal plans in 2026 are Blue Shield of California Promise, Community Health Group, Molina, and Kaiser for those eligible.²
- Blue Shield Promise: "You don't need a referral or approval." San Diego County mental health line (855) 321-2211 (TTY 711), weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its 2026 handbook covers "psychological testing when clinically indicated."³
- Community Health Group: an initial mental health evaluation with an in-network provider needs no prior authorization, and psychological testing is covered. Behavioral Health Services, 1-800-404-3332.⁴
- Molina: its handbook says you can get an assessment from a network mental health provider "without a referral." Member Services, 1-888-665-4621 (TTY 711).⁵
- Kaiser: 1-833-579-4848 (TTY 711), weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No referral is needed.⁶
No insurance, or not sure: the county's Access and Crisis Line, 1-888-724-7240, runs 24/7 with help "in over 200 languages," and a counselor will give you a referral.⁷ It is not an ADHD clinic.
Commercial insurance: ask for an in-network adult ADHD diagnostic evaluation and what you will pay. If no one in network can see you within the timely-access standard, generally 10 business days for a non-urgent mental-health appointment, ask the plan to arrange care.⁸ If nobody in network has an opening →
Students at UC San Diego and San Diego State
- UC San Diego: "Neither CAPS nor Student Health Services (SHS) physicians prescribe stimulant medications," and the campus pharmacy "cannot fill prescriptions for stimulant medication." On SHIP you need a referral from CAPS or SHS for outside care.⁹ Plan for an off-campus evaluator and prescriber from the start.
- San Diego State: Counseling & Psychological Services does "not provide psychological assessments," but helps students find them.¹⁰ The SDSU Psychology Clinic tests for ADHD; ask for its fee, and note it does not take insurance.¹¹
Before you pay
"Is this an interview-based diagnosis, a short summary evaluation, or a full testing package? Who diagnoses, what is the total, what do I get in writing, and who treats me afterwards?"
Online prescribing of ADHD medication runs under temporary federal rules through December 31, 2026.¹² Check an online evaluation → · Compare two quotes → · Prepare a one-page history →
Other regions: Orange County → · Los Angeles → · the Inland Empire →
Q&A
How much does an adult ADHD evaluation cost in San Diego? On November 6, 2026, psychiatric first visits were published at $400 to $550, short adults-only evaluations at $1,395 and $1,450, and full testing at $2,200 to $5,000.
Is there an ADHD evaluation in San Diego that takes Tricare? Of the eight practices that publish a price, one lists Tricare as in network: the psychological assessment practice at 9666 Businesspark Ave, at $2,200.
Will UC San Diego prescribe ADHD medication? No. UCSD CAPS and Student Health physicians do not prescribe stimulants, and the campus pharmacy cannot fill them.⁹
Our therapist directory: See its current status →
Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health, "ADHD: What You Need to Know" — nimh.nih.gov.
- California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal managed care plans in San Diego County — dhcs.ca.gov (read November 6, 2026).
- Blue Shield of California Promise, behavioral health services and 2026 San Diego member handbook (read November 6, 2026).
- Community Health Group, behavioral health — chgsd.com (read November 6, 2026).
- Molina Healthcare of California, Medi-Cal member handbook 2025 — molinahealthcare.com (read November 6, 2026).
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California, mental health services page — healthy.kaiserpermanente.org (read November 6, 2026).
- County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, contact and outpatient mental health (read November 6, 2026).
- California Department of Managed Health Care, Timely Access to Care — dmhc.ca.gov.
- UC San Diego CAPS, ADHD policy — caps.ucsd.edu (read November 6, 2026).
- San Diego State University Counseling & Psychological Services, ADHD — sacd.sdsu.edu (read November 6, 2026).
- SDSU Psychology Clinic, evaluation and testing and payment (read November 6, 2026).
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, telemedicine flexibilities through December 31, 2026 — dea.gov.
Price sources, each read November 6, 2026: Elevated Psychiatry and pricing · San Diego Adult ADHD Anxiety & Depression Center · Celium Healthcare · Transcend Behavioral Health · The ADHD Center for Success · Businesspark Ave practice · Wander · Coastal Therapy Group.
Changes since the last version: the September page named no practices and no prices. The county Access and Crisis Line was re-checked and still stands.
Clinical review is not yet claimed.
Paid for by participating therapists. Inclusion is computed from published prices — never purchased. No ads, no data sold.