When a claim is made on an insurance policy, commonly those covering medical costs, automobile or home repairs, the insurance company must confirm the nature of the charges and if they are eligible for reimbursement under the customer’s plan. This verification may be done online, through reference materials specific to the coverage, or through telecommunications. The confirmed invoices are normally itemized and assigned tracking numbers before submission to the insurance companies. The person who performs this job is called an insurance biller.
Skill Requirements
Proficiency in general math and using a calculator is required to be an insurance biller. Many insurance billers use software programs specifically designed for the industry that automatically calculate the authorized reimbursement amounts based on coding but the numbers have to be verified by the biller for consistency and accuracy. Knowledge of insurance coverage terms and limitations is necessary. Communication skills are required to answer customer inquiries and frequently correspond with multiple providers as well as welfare and government agencies that may be providing a portion of the coverage. The ability to read and interpret computer printouts that reflect monthly account activity and details of the covered costs is required for the job.
Job Duties
An insurance biller is expected to generate accurate bills and invoices in a timely manner. He confirms the eligible reimbursement amounts for each customer and reviews any claims that may need clarification to be paid. When the bills are complete, he either mails them or sends them to insurance companies online. In some companies, the insurance biller also serves as a customer service representative that answers questions regarding denied or disputed claims from the customers as well as from the customers’ insurance companies.
Work Conditions
In a large company, an insurance biller may have an office or cubicle where she performs her job. Smaller companies may have one large office that accommodates a variety of administrative employees at different desks. Most of the day, an insurance biller sits at her desk. Her working hours are typically nine to five, five days a week. She is normally required to dress in a professional business manner.
Educational Requirements
Most employers require insurance biller applicants to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Preferred high school courses include math, accounting and business software applications. Candidates with some college education in business administration or accounting are desirable.
Salary and Advancement Opportunities
Insurance billers with associate’s or bachelor’s degrees usually have opportunities to advance to management or supervisory positions, either in the billing department or other areas within a large company. Promotional prospects in smaller companies are normally limited. According to cbsalary.com, the average annual salary in the United States in July 2010 for an insurance biller was $35,336.
Resources
Careers.StateUniversity.com: Insurance Biller Job Description [ http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/153/Billing-Clerk.html] CBSalary.com; Insurance Biller Job Description [ http://www.cbsalary.com/national-salary-chart.aspx?specialty=Insurance+Billing+Clerk&cty=&sid=&kw=Insurance&jn=jn034&edu=&tid=7640] CBSalary.com: Insurance Biller Salary [ http://www.cbsalary.com/national-salary-chart.aspx?specialty=Insurance+Billing+Clerk&cty=&sid=&kw=Insurance&jn=jn034&edu=&tid=7640]