What Sentara Bill Pay is and how to use it
Sentara Bill Pay is a feature inside the Sentara patient portal that lets you pay your medical bills directly from your bank account without writing a check or using a credit card. You log into your Sentara account online or through the mobile app, find the bill you owe, and submit payment in a few steps. The money goes straight from your bank to Sentara, usually within one to three business days.
Sentara operates hospitals and clinics across Virginia, North Carolina, and Delaware. If you have received care at a Sentara facility and have an outstanding balance, you can use this tool to settle it. You do not need to call the billing department or mail anything — the entire transaction happens on your screen.
Key Takeaways
- Sentara Bill Pay connects to your bank account and pulls money directly, so you will need your routing number and account number to set it up.
- You can only pay bills that Sentara has already sent you; you cannot pay future charges or bills from other healthcare providers through this system.
- Payments typically arrive within one to three business days, so plan ahead if your due date is soon.
- You must have a Sentara patient portal account to access Bill Pay, and you can set it up for free if you do not have one yet.
How to set up and access Sentara Bill Pay
Start by logging into your Sentara patient portal at mysentar.org or through the Sentara mobile app. If you do not have a portal account yet, you can create one using your date of birth, Social Security number, and a valid email address. Sentara will send you a verification code to confirm your identity.
Once you are logged in, look for a section labeled "Billing" or "Pay My Bill." The exact location varies slightly depending on whether you are using the website or the app, but it is usually in the main menu or under "Account." Click into that section and you will see any outstanding balances tied to your account. Select the bill you want to pay and follow the prompts to connect your bank account.
You will need to provide your bank's routing number and your checking or savings account number. Sentara uses this information to pull the payment directly from your account — similar to setting up automatic bill pay with your utility company. Your bank information is encrypted and stored securely.
What bills you can and cannot pay through this system
Sentara Bill Pay works only for bills that Sentara Healthcare has already generated and sent to you. This includes balances from emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgery, lab work, imaging, and office visits at Sentara clinics. If you have a balance showing in your portal, you can pay it through Bill Pay.
You cannot use Sentara Bill Pay to pay bills from other healthcare providers, even if you received care at a Sentara facility and were referred to an outside specialist. Those bills come from a different organization and must be paid separately through that provider's system or by traditional methods.
You also cannot use Bill Pay to pay future charges or make advance payments. The system only shows bills that have already been finalized and posted to your account. If you want to pay a bill before the due date, you can do so, but you cannot prepay for services you have not yet received.
Payment timing and what to expect after you submit
When you submit a payment through Sentara Bill Pay, the transaction does not happen when ready. Most payments take one to three business days to appear in Sentara's account, depending on your bank and the day of the week you submit. If you submit on a Friday evening, for example, the payment may not arrive until Tuesday.
After you submit, you will receive a confirmation number on your screen and usually an email confirmation as well. Keep this number for your records. You can log back into your portal at any time to see the status of your payment — it will show as "pending" until the money arrives, then as "posted" once Sentara has received it.
If your bill has a due date coming up soon, do not wait until the last day to pay. Submit your payment at least three to five business days before the due date to make sure it arrives on time. If you miss the due date, Sentara may add a late fee or report the debt to a credit agency, so timing matters.
Security and what information you are sharing
Sentara Bill Pay uses the same encryption and security standards as online banking. Your bank account information is not stored in plain text and is not visible to Sentara staff members who handle your medical records. The payment system is separate from your medical information, so your doctor cannot see your banking details.
That said, you are giving Sentara permission to access your bank account and pull money from it. Make sure you trust the amount before you confirm the payment. Once the money leaves your account, it is difficult to reverse — you would need to contact Sentara's billing department and request a refund, which can take several weeks.
If you are uncomfortable sharing your bank account information online, you have other options. You can mail a check, pay by phone with a credit or debit card (though this may include a processing fee), or visit a Sentara billing office in person.
Alternatives if you cannot or do not want to use Bill Pay
If Sentara Bill Pay does not work for your situation, you have several other ways to pay your bill. You can mail a check to the address listed on your bill — this takes longer but requires no online account or bank information. You can also call Sentara's billing department and pay over the phone using a credit card or debit card, though some providers charge a convenience fee for this method.
Some Sentara locations have in-person billing offices where you can walk in and pay cash, check, or card. You can find the nearest office by calling Sentara's main line or checking their website. If you are struggling to pay your bill in full, ask about payment plans — many healthcare providers will let you split a large balance into smaller monthly payments.
If you have insurance that should cover part of the bill, make sure your claim has been processed before you pay. Sometimes a bill shows as due when the insurance payment is still pending. Contact your insurance company or Sentara's billing department to confirm what you actually owe.
Troubleshooting common problems with Sentara Bill Pay
If you cannot log into your Sentara portal, start by resetting your password. Go to the login page and click "Forgot Password," then follow the steps to create a new one. If you still cannot access your account, you may need to verify your identity again — Sentara will ask for your date of birth and Social Security number.
If you see a bill in your portal but cannot click on it to pay, the bill may not be in a payable status yet. Some bills are still being processed or waiting for insurance to respond. Wait a day or two and check again, or call Sentara's billing department to ask why the bill is not available for payment.
If your payment was rejected by your bank, you will see an error message in the portal. This usually happens because your account does not have enough funds, your account number was entered incorrectly, or your bank flagged the transaction as suspicious. Check your bank account balance and the account number you entered, then try again. If your bank is blocking the payment, call them to ask why.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up automatic payments through Sentara Bill Pay?
Sentara Bill Pay does not have a built-in automatic payment feature. You must log in and submit each payment manually. However, some banks allow you to set up automatic payments to Sentara from your bank's website — you would enter Sentara's mailing address and account information there instead.
What if I pay my bill but Sentara still sends me a collection notice?
This can happen if your payment is still pending when Sentara's system generates the notice. Once your payment posts, the notice should stop. If you keep receiving notices after your payment has arrived, contact Sentara's billing department with your confirmation number to show proof of payment.
Can I pay someone else's Sentara bill through my portal account?
No. You can only pay bills attached to your own portal account. If you want to pay a family member's bill, they can log into their own account and pay it, or you can call Sentara's billing department and ask to pay over the phone using their account number.
Is there a fee to use Sentara Bill Pay?
Sentara does not charge a fee to use Bill Pay. However, your bank may charge a fee if you are using a savings account instead of a checking account, or if you exceed your bank's monthly transfer limit. Check with your bank about any fees before you set up the connection.
What happens if I pay too much by accident?
If you overpay, Sentara will issue you a refund. Contact their billing department with your confirmation number and explain the overpayment. Refunds typically take two to four weeks to appear back in your bank account.