Understanding Health Care Costs
We understand that coming to the hospital can be a stressful time and understand the bills associated with your care can be confusing. At Sentara, we are committed to providing transparent pricing information to help patients and customers make informed health care decisions and ease some of the stress.
If you have questions about pricing or your hospital bill, please contact our billing department.
Estimating hospital charges
Estimating the price of a health care procedure can be complicated. The charges for services is based on many factors that vary from hospital to hospital. These factors include:
- Purchasing medications and surgical supplies
- Powering and maintaining hospital buildings
- Paying health care workers
The charges will be based on the average number of procedures performed and the average total charges for those procedures, using current database information. Charges are usually revised on an annual basis.
Estimates include hospital pricing/charges only. They do not include physician charges, rehabilitation, home health or other pre- and post-operative care. Estimates also assume services are provided without complications. The final bill you receive will include charges for actual services provided to you. These charges may differ from the estimate. You will be responsible for any additional charges in excess of the estimate. The estimates will not provide an insurance benefit review. Patients with insurance should understand their insurance health benefits and out-of pocket requirements which may impact their personal financial liability for anticipated health care services. Please contact your insurer directly for information about your financial obligation.
If you have health insurance:
The amount you are responsible for paying depends on your insurance plan. The most accurate estimate will be provided by your health insurance provider. Your financial responsibility will depend on your medical plan benefits and may include a deductible, coinsurance or copays. It’s important to contact your insurance company before a medical procedure. To see a list of health insurance plans that Sentara accepts, select one of the links below:
- Health insurance plans accepted by Sentara hospitals
- Health insurance plans accepted by Sentara physicians
If you don’t have insurance:
You may qualify for financial assistance program. Learn more about financial assistance at Sentara.
More Information
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The amount you are responsible for paying depends on your insurance plan. The most accurate estimate will be provided by your health insurance provider. Your financial responsibility will depend on your medical plan benefits and may include a deductible, coinsurance or copays. It's important to contact your insurance company before a medical procedure. Here are some of the most common plans:
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You may qualify for financial assistance program. Learn more about financial assistance at Sentara.
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Patients with insurance should understand their health insurance benefits and out-of-pocket costs for health care services; please contact your health insurance provider directly for this information. If you don’t have insurance, you might qualify for financial assistance at Sentara.
Sentara offers visitors to our website the chance to see estimated prices and payments for health care services at our facilities. Estimating the price/charge of a health care procedure can be complicated. The charge for a service is based on many factors that vary from hospital to hospital and is usually revised on an annual basis. Estimates include hospital prices only. They do not include physician charges, rehabilitation, home health or pre- and post-operative care. Estimates also assume services are provided without complications.
This is our best estimate based on the information available at the time and is subject to change. The estimate is based on information you provide and is not a formal quote or guarantee. Your actual costs may be higher or lower depending on many factors, including, but not limited to, your physician’s treatment choices, actual services rendered, complications, your particular health care needs, and the details of your insurance coverage, if any.
You will be held responsible for the actual amount you owe based on services rendered to you or your insured dependents (as applicable), and the information provided on this website (including the estimate) is not a guarantee of fees, nor an offer and does not form a contract. Please check with your health insurance to confirm whether the requested service or procedure is covered, and the costs for it at the desired Sentara location. You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. There is no guarantee that your health insurance will provide coverage, so please reach out to them to understand and confirm your plan details.
The final bill you receive will include charges for actual services provided to you. These charges may differ from the estimate. You will be responsible for any additional charges in excess of the estimate.
Click below to access the Price Estimation tool
- Sentara Albemarle Medical Center
- Sentara CarePlex Hospital
- Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital
- Sentara Leigh Hospital
- Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
- Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
- Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center
- Sentara Obici Hospital
- Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
- Sentara RMH Medical Center
- Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
- Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center
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As the healthcare landscape has changed, so have the costs charged directly to the patient. The amount you may pay depends upon a number of factors, and we want to be sure you are always kept informed and help you manage your healthcare costs. These websites provide information regarding average Virginia hospital charges and average insurance allowances for a number of medical services.