Benefit Specialist ; Portland

Benefit Specialist I (Portland, OR)

The Benefit Specialist responds to incoming telephone calls from client participants and providers regarding Health & Welfare benefits. Each Specialist will be required to answer approximately 100-125 calls per day. This is a union position. Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Positively respond to incoming calls from members and providers to:
• Explain group benefits
• Assist with claims eligibility issues
• Provide claims status
• Assist the callers with their questions or concerns and providing problem resolution
• Make adjustments on claims, research questions and problems, and provide the best solutions available; when necessary, pull hard copy claims from batches
• When time permits, alternating with co-workers to make sure the phones are always covered
• Occasionally make outgoing calls to members and providers
• Make copies as required
• File forms and letters
• Must be flexible and willing to pitch in and work together as a team member
• Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of this job

Minimum qualifications:

• 2 years of customer service experience in a call center environment
• 2 years of experience in employee benefits or similar position
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge of medical claims terminology, claims processing, data entry or medical billing experience

Education and/or experience:
High School diploma or GED equivalent. Language skills:
Effective communication skills are essential. Individual should enjoy and be able to work in a busy and sometimes noisy pressured environment. Mathematical skills:
Ability to apply concepts of basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Reasoning ability:
Specialist must be analytical. Specialist must be able to deal with people in stressful situations. Specialist must have good communication skills and keen observation and be able to pay careful attention to what a caller is asking for and then use good judgment to address issue. Specialist must be able to apply common sense to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.

Physical demands:
Occasional lifting of paperwork and batches of claims. Sustained periods of sitting, standing and keyboarding. Occasional lifting and carrying of boxes, typically "banker-box" size. Must be able to operate basic office equipment such as a scanner and copier. Work environment:
Typical office environment that, at times, can be busy and noisy.

Work schedule:

Full time. Monday – Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm. Required in office (no at-home days). Competitive benefits:

• Paid vacation; earned at a rate of 3.077 hours bi-weekly
• Paid sick time; earned at a rate of 3.69 hours bi-weekly
• 12 paid holidays
• Paid personal time; 2 days after 90 days of employment
• 3 days paid bereavement leave
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with option for dependent coverage
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-paid basic life, time-loss, long-term disability, and AD&D insurance
• 401k with employer match
• Paid training
• Career development opportunities

Pay:
The hourly rate for this position is $23.55, with a $1.00/hour increase after 6 months. Experience will be considered to determine if eligible for Benefit Specialist II role. This is a union position. The pay rate is based on the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Wage rates may be dependent on location, skills, education, experience, and other business factors.

Our culture focuses on three core values:

• Collaboration:
  
  working together across 31 locations to achieve the best for the company and our clients
• Dedication: striving to create an environment where all employees work toward a common goal while committing to providing the best customer service to our members and our colleagues
• Integrity: doing what we say we will do. Upholding strong ethical and moral principles

ADA & EEO Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified individuals with disabilities are able to complete the application process and, if hired, fulfill the essential functions of their job.