La Jolla in San Diego, California, is one of the wealthiest areas in the western United States.

With cliffs overlooking the ocean, luxury homes, prestigious universities, and research institutions, it is often referred to as "the Beverly Hills of San Diego."

While both La Jolla and Newport Beach are affluent neighborhoods, their atmospheres are somewhat different.

Newport Beach is a resort city known for its yachts, luxury shopping, and a high concentration of financiers and entrepreneurs, whereas La Jolla has a strong image as an intellectual enclave where many doctors, professors, researchers, and biotech professionals reside.

This area is home to world-renowned hospitals and research institutions, notably Scripps Health and UC San Diego Health.

Both institutions are equipped with top-tier medical staff and the latest technology, attracting patients from across the U.S. and abroad for advanced treatments in cancer care, heart disease, neurosurgery, organ transplants, and orthopedics.

In particular, the hospitals in La Jolla are characterized not just as places for patient care but as medical clusters where medical research and new drug development occur simultaneously. World-class research institutions like the Salk Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys, and Scripps Research are also located nearby.

As a result, new treatments and clinical trials often progress more quickly here than in other regions.

So, can anyone go to these hospitals? To answer briefly, yes. Whether you are a U.S. citizen or a foreigner, you can receive treatment as long as you make an appointment. However, specialist consultations may require a referral, and it is common to wait several weeks to months for popular doctors. Many hospitals operate international patient centers, making it quite common for overseas patients to book appointments directly.

The issue, however, is cost. Medical expenses in the U.S. are among the highest in the world. Without insurance, a single visit to the emergency room can cost over $2,000 to $5,000, and CT or MRI scans can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Just one day of hospitalization, including room and testing fees, can easily result in charges of several thousand dollars. If surgery is required, total costs can often exceed tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Of course, having health insurance significantly reduces out-of-pocket expenses due to contracted rates.

Compared to the medical environment in Newport Beach, the character is somewhat different. Newport Beach also has many high-quality medical facilities, with a focus on cosmetic surgery, dermatology, orthopedics, sports medicine, spinal treatment, and VIP health check-ups. Given the high-income and retired affluent population in the area, premium medical services are quite active. In contrast, La Jolla is recognized for its strengths in treating severe or rare diseases, cancer care, and advanced medical research centered around university hospitals.

In simple terms, premium medical services like health check-ups or cosmetic and joint treatments are stronger in Newport Beach, while La Jolla is more renowned for high-stakes surgeries and cutting-edge research treatments.

Thus, it is often said in the U.S. that "if you have a really difficult illness, you go to La Jolla." While its beautiful coastline and affluent image may lead one to think of it merely as a tourist destination, the fact that it is a city where world-class medical research and healthcare technology converge is what makes La Jolla truly special.