Specific training is available to help job-seekers develop health insurance careers. Health insurance jobs range from front-line claims intake workers who specialize in medical coding to customer service positions and management jobs with insurance carriers. Lower-level managers often are recruited from the ranks of experienced workers as they earn their degrees. Strengthen your resume with training and on-the-job experience.

Add professional development courses for medical insurance jobs that can move you into entry-level management positions, then seek more advanced certifications. Look for sales training and marketing programs to supplement your insurance certification, and look for training for jobs in health insurance to suit your level of professional development.

1. Complete training to qualify for medical billing job opportunities.

2. Diversify your training for other jobs in health insurance.

3. Get a degree to move up in a career in health insurance.

Action Steps
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Get medical billing training for jobs in health insurance

While there are no formal licenses or certifications required to work in medical billing, there are certificates available in medical billing in many technical schools. Look for specific training and degrees focused on medical terminology, coding and anatomy.

I recommend: Earn a medical billing certification from the programs offered by Canyon College or Kaplan Continuing Education. The Pinnacle Career Institute offers a medical billing degree that you can earn online in as little as nine months.

Find continuing education to add to your skills for careers in health insurance

While you pursue your career in health insurance, watch for opportunities to build your resume by looking for customer service training, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training and management courses. Use your training to open up opportunities in different departments that could lead to a management position.

I recommend: Find a number of continuing education training courses through America's Health Insurance Plans. Many courses specifically focus on customer service, while others go into regulatory issues that will be required as you progress in your career. Tallahassee Community College offers several intermediate courses online for health insurance customer service reps.

Qualify for healthcare insurance underwriting jobs with expanded training

A healthcare insurance underwriter reviews insurance applications to determine whether the applicant is eligible for coverage. Any college degree is hepful, but one in healthcare management is desirable. Specialized training will also help you progress faster up the healthcare insurance jobs ladder.

I recommend: Whether you are a newcomer or a pro, you will find underwriting training opportunities aplenty at the Insurance Institute of America. You can also earn the Registered Health Underwriter designation at The American College.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Jobs in medical insurance follow many national trends. You should prepare for changes in the industry by obtaining training in popular arenas such as wellness insurance and government funded programs such as Medicare.

Jobs in health insurance are generally quite secure. As the U.S. population ages, there is an ever-increasing need for people who want a career in health insurance.

Jobs in medical insurance have traditionally not required special training. While people in large cities may have needed a Bachelor's degree to start their health insurance careers, many people in smaller towns have been able to get an entry-level health insurance job with just a high school diploma. Recently, however, some career training schools have begun offering course for those who want careers in health insurance.

People who are interested in medical insurance jobs should:

1. Like working with people. Most jobs in health insurance require a lot of interaction with customers.
   
2. Be efficient communicators. Professionals should listen and understand their needs.
3. Be well organized. In most cases, you will work with many people on a variety of projects. You need to have an effect system of organization.
   

Action Steps
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Use a professional resume writer to jazz up your resume

There is no doubt that having a great resume is the key to getting health insurance jobs. Using professional resume writers will make you stand out in the crowd of applicants.

I recommend: ResumeEdge.com offers resume-writing services for both entry level and management positions in a wide variety of industries, including health insurance.

Look at the available careers in health insurance

Health insurance jobs can be as varied as a claims adjuster, insurance agent, or underwriter. Look into career outlooks, as well as the health insurance job that will best fit your you.

I recommend: CareerOverview has a great list of the types of available employment in health insurance, as well as career outlook in the industry.

Apply for jobs in medical insurance easily online

Online job boards make it easy to search for and apply to medical insurance jobs. Some will also allow you to post your resume so that potential employers may call you.

I recommend: The Health Care Job Store specializes in jobs in health insurance. The InsuranceJobChannel lists multiple jobs including part time jobs with health insurance.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you interview, make sure that you brush up on your interview skills. Since most health insurance jobs require interaction with customers, you will need to shine in your interview.
• •  If you are willing to relocate, you will be able to entertain a wider variety of opportunities.
• •  Local staffing agencies may also be able to help you to find a position. These companies usually offer temp-to-permanent positions. This is convenient because it give both you and the employer the opportunity to decide if it is a good fit.

Ensure continued success in the health insurance field or gain training if you’re just starting out by seeking health insurance jobs education and training. Whether you seek certification or want additional skills for a health insurance job like a claims service analyst, customer service specialist or consultant, training is the key to boosting your marketability.

You can receive education for health insurance jobs from a variety of sources. Choose the style and source of training to further your employment in health insurance from the following:

1. Enroll in training seminars aimed at jobs in health insurance to learn new skills to improve your talent or transition to another career.
2. Sign up for online training courses to receive continuing education while you’re working or pursuing new jobs in medical insurance.
3. Discover ways to improve your productivity and efficiency or learn more about the duties of other health insurance careers with instructional seminars on DVD or compact disc.

Action Steps
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Attend seminars or take classes to learn new skills for healthcare insurance jobs

Seasoned health insurance professionals or newcomers to the health insurance job industry will benefit from classes designed to award degrees or certifications. Further your professional development by going back to the classroom for specialized education.

I recommend: If you’re just entering the health insurance industry, find a school near you that offers courses for jobs in health insurance through Education Portal. Sign up for training seminars for health insurance jobs through the Association of Health Insurance Advisors. Study in programs to become a Long-Term Care Professional, Certified Senior Specialist or Certified Senior Advisor, for example.

Take online courses relating to careers in health insurance to study at your own pace

Sign up for continuing education opportunities relating to your health insurance job. Complete online courses as you're working to prevent a lapse in earnings, while providing vital new skills to improve your value and marketability.

I recommend: Find an assortment of online, self-study courses regarding jobs for health insurance through AB Training Center. Use the pull down menus to find available courses specific to your state. The Insurance Educational Association offers online courses specific to employment in health insurance fields. Topics include claims, risk management and workers’ compensation.

Learn from instructional DVDs that cover topics relating to health care insurance jobs

Keep up to date with changes in regulations, job duties and customer service trends to stay on top of your game in your career in health insurance. Instructional DVDs or video training courses let you digest new information at your own convenience.

I recommend: Business Training Media offers a series of educational DVDs on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Learn about such topics as privacy compliance and patient confidentiality. Check out the daily webinars or the training course video library of the Independent Health Insurance Agent Association. Training covers topics like sales and marketing and underwriting.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As you're taking courses relating to your career, keep your eyes open for information on other medical insurance jobs. You never know when a better opportunity will come along perfectly suited to the skills you've learned through your health insurance jobs education and training.

There are many types of health insurance jobs, including the actuary positions, underwriters and claims representatives. There are many terms within each of these careers that are commonly used in the industry. For those working in such positions or within the health insurance industry, it is critical to understand these terms. Some of the terms are included below.

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Actuary

Actuaries are responsible for estimating risk for insurance companies. They work to assess the health of individuals and how it relates to the amount of risk the insurer will take on. An actuary's work helps to determine the cost of the coverage for an individual.

I recommend: CareerOverview offers more information about the actuary position with health insurance providers.

Underwriter

A health insurance underwriter helps to decide if insurance will be provided and the terms under which it will be written. They work to calculate the risk of loss from policyholders. They write the policies that individuals will sign and use. They work on behalf of the insurer to ensure the policy provides enough financial strength to benefit the company.

I recommend: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides more information on health insurance underwriter jobs.

Claims representatives

Claims representatives work for the insurance company to investigate any claims policyholders may file. They investigate the claims, negotiate the proper settlements for the claims and authorize payments.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Labor provides more information on claims representatives.

Insurance policy process clerks

Insurance policy processing clerks help provide administrative assistance in the health insurance jobs industry. These professionals collect premiums, issue receipts, compute interest due and handle office management. These professionals may work in an agent's office or in an insurance company's claims department.

I recommend: InsuranceJobs provides more information on insurance policy process clerks.

Precertification

Some health insurance jobs require precertification, which is the process of ensuring a patient is able to obtain the procedure required from the physician they are working with. This process may be performed through a computerized program and is often done by the health insurance representative or a call center employee.

I recommend: Aetna offers more information on precertification on its website.

Voluntary benefits

Many employers are offering voluntary benefits as an added perk for working with the company. In health insurance jobs, voluntary benefits are policies, or types of coverage added to the policy, to cover additional needs.

I recommend: Humana offers more information on voluntary benefits on its website.