Health Insurance Technician

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.  Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

THE COUNTY

Alameda County, located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, is California's seventh-largest county.  The County employs 9,080 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $2.39 billion.  Oakland, the County seat, is California's eighth largest city.  One and a half million people call Alameda County home and live in a variety of incorporated cities, unincorporated communities and rural areas.  As a major urban county, Alameda provides a full range of services to its citizens.  The County is a blend of culturally and ethnically diverse communities, and its mixture of cosmopolitan and suburban areas provides the perfect environment for families and their active lifestyles.  The County offers extensive cultural resources, countless recreational opportunities and an array of fine public and private colleges and universities.  

THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY

Alameda County's Health Services Program is administered by the Health Care Services Agency and includes the following program areas: Behavioral Health Care, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Agency Administration/Indigent Health. The ultimate mission of the Health Care Services Agency is to provide fully integrated health care services through a comprehensive network of public and private partnerships that ensure optimal health and well-being and respect the diversity of all residents. Health Care Services Agency currently has multiple career opportunities for experienced professionals to become part of a service delivery team dedicated to the optimal health and well-being of Alameda County residents. 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE

It is the mission of Behavioral Health Care Services to maximize the recovery, resilience and wellness of all eligible Alameda County residents who are developing or experiencing serious mental health, alcohol, or drug concerns. We envision communities where people realize their potential, and where stigma and discrimination against those with mental health, alcohol and/or drug issues are a thing of the past.

Only through exemplifying the following Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services values will we be successful:

ACBHCS

Access - where every door is the right door for welcoming people with complex needs;

Consumer and Family Empowerment - through shared decision‐making best practices, that clinically produce effective outcomes;

Best Practices - business excellence that uses public resources cost‐effectively;

Health and Wellness - by integrating emotional, spiritual and physical health care;

Culturally Responsive - appropriate services built on the strengths and life experiences of culturally diverse consumers and their families;

Social Inclusion - utilizing advocacy and education to eliminate stigma, discrimination, isolation, and misunderstanding of persons with mental illness and substance abuse.

For more information about the department of Behavioral Health Care Services, please visit www.acbhcs.org/

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, Health Insurance Technicians determine potential client eligibility for Federal, State or county health insurance programs; provides assistance to Alameda County residents with the application, enrollment and renewal processes for benefit programs and privately funded health insurance programs; provides on-going training and technical assistance to clients, clinics, contracted providers and community-based organizations regarding a variety of specialized Federal, State and County health insurance programs; participates in health program enrollment outreach events; acts as advocate/liaison on behalf of client and in conjunction with other agencies; reviews and processes provider transmittals for payment; and performs other related duties as assigned.

These paraprofessional positions are located in the Health Care Services Agency and report to a Supervising Health Insurance Technician or Patient Services Supervisor. Incumbents in this position require extensive program knowledge and the ability to elicit financial information from clients’ related to various benefit and health insurance programs in possible stressful situations and convey information to medical/clinical professionals and other staff.

IDEAL CANDIDATES

In addition to the minimum qualifications and knowledge and skills listed below, ideal candidates for this position will possess:

• Experience assisting clients with the application and enrollment processes for public and private benefit programs.
• Ability to act as a liaison with clients, providers, staff, and Federal, State, County and private agencies.
• Ability to audit program applications for eligibility enrollment and renewal.
• Experience maintaining accurate case information, including but not limited to client demographic and financial information.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, community resources and organizations.
• Experience prioritizing tasks and time in order to meet deadlines, many under tight time constraints.
• The ability to plan and conduct administrative and operational research/studies.
• Experience understanding clients’ social, cultural and economic diversity related to health care. 
•  The ability to advocate for clients to resolve discrepancies/inconsistencies related to client benefits and/or accounts.
• Experience providing training to peers and community based service staff on assessing benefit eligibility and enrollment.
• Experience planning, organizing and conducting presentations on health and benefit programs.

EXPERIENCE:

The equivalent of two years full-time experience assisting clients with the application, referral and enrollment processes for federal, state or county health insurance programs, determining potential eligibility for such programs and performing health care program outreach activities in a health care or social services setting. (Possession of an Associate of Arts Degree from an accredited college in health science, social science, or a related field may be substituted for one year of the required two years of experience.)

LICENSE:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.  

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

The most suitable qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Personal Identifiable Information (PII) rules of patient/client confidentiality.
• Health benefit and/or application processes, regulations and procedures.
• Community organizations and resources for underserved populations.
• Community outreach techniques and methods.
• Interviewing methods and techniques.
• Administrative practices and procedures including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.
• Practices and techniques of administrative analysis.
• Report principles, research and preparation.
• Client-centered computer systems, applications and programs related to benefit plans.

Ability to:

• Plan and conduct administrative and operational research/studies.
• Prepare accurate/concise reports, correspondence, procedures and other written materials.
• Analyze and research complex benefit related problems, reach sound conclusions to develop appropriate courses of action.
• Interview clients to obtain appropriate eligibility and financial data and maintain accurate case information.
• Comprehend, interpret and follow instructions related to health insurance and benefit programs.
• Verify eligibility and/or screen for appropriate health insurance and benefit programs.
• Understand clients’ social, cultural and economic diversity related to health care.
• Advocate for clients to resolve discrepancies/inconsistencies related to client benefits and/or accounts.
• Work independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, community resources and organizations.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Prioritize tasks and time in order to meet all deadlines, many under tight time constraints.
• Plan, organize and conduct presentations on health and benefit programs.
• Exercise interpersonal skills, and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, professional, paraprofessional and support staff in the department, outside agencies and with the general public.
• Provide training to peers and community based service staff on assessing benefit eligibility and enrollment.
• Make accurate calculations and computations in regards to client’s income, assets and disbursements.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS: 1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. 2) Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process which is a review of candidates' Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process. 3) Those candidates selected as best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process, an oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:  

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN: 

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Employee Mortgage Loan Program
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Nicole Lewis-Bolton, Human Resources Analyst II

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda