Customer Service Rep For A Health Insurance Company
Career review from a person working in the job
How I Got The Job
My Education: high school diploma some college classes, many work-related classes, seminars
My Prior Experience: I began my career in entry-level banking jobs then moved to the financial industry, where I was promoted from a customer service rep to supervisor to manager and eventually to officer level. My position was eliminated in 2000.
My Job Profile
My Company: I work for a health insurance company.
Job/Career Overview: I take incoming phone calls as a member service associate for a large health insurance company. I work 8:30-4:30 and am responsible for providing complete and accurate benefit information to the members. The information I provide can range from the mundane -- "How much is my co-payment?” -- to explaining how and when the member's deductible and co-insurances are applied.
I also review processed claims with members and advise them whether a bill they received is valid and, if there is a problem with it, I will call the provider's office and confirm any possible errors.
Love It? Hate It?
I rate this career 10 out of 10.
What I Love or Hate
The best part of my job is the customer satisfaction. Many times customers will call back to ask for a supervisor so they can praise the job I did. Not only does this make me feel good but I also get a certificate and reward in the form of either a Dunkin' Donuts gift cards or movie tickets. I usually get at least two of these praise calls a month. One time, in fact, I got six in one day. It makes you feel good to know you did something to help someone else. I love the job I have and hope to be here for a long time.
The worst part of the job is when a member calls and is angry from the time you answer and no matter what you do or offer to do he is not going to be happy. I can honestly say in the six years I have been with this company I have had only one of those callers. They are the ones who want a supervisor immediately and nothing I can offer will change their mind. Most times I might get an irate member I have the ability to defuse the problem and satisfy him without a supervisors help.
My Career Tips
Value your schooling while you can. You'll hear (and may even say one day), "I wished I'd taken school more seriously," "I wish I'd paid more attention," "I wish I'd gone to college" or "I wish I could do it over." You can't and I can't, but I consider myself extremely lucky to be employed. My career in the financial industry lasted 12 years and I could have pursued other jobs in that area but at the time jobs were few and far between, and I love customer service, so when I was offered this opportunity I took it and am so thankful I did.
