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Health Insurance Associate (HIA) Certification
Health Insurance Associate (HIA) Certification
As a health insurance associate (HIA), you can underwrite policies, examine contracts and effectively market and sell your services. Find out about the certification test, what courses are required for HIA certification, and information on elective studies.
What Is the Health Insurance Associate Certification?
The American Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) offers the Health Insurance Associate (HIA) certification. This certification is offered to insurance professionals who have passed the AHIP's course of study. AHIP requires you to complete six online courses, each followed by a multiple-choice exam on the course content. You must complete four core classes and then choose two out of three electives.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Certification Length</b></td><td>Six courses</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Core Class Topics</b></td><td>Processing claims, underwriting, marketing, special risks</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Elective Courses</b></td><td>Disability, fraud, long term care</td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Median Salary (2020)</b> </td><td> $71,790 (<i>for all insurance underwriters</i>) </td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 6% decline (<i>for all insurance underwriters</i>) </td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreTheCoreClasses">What Are the Core Classes?</h3><p>You begin with taking two courses that cover the fundamentals of health insurance. The first part looks into the basics of health insurance like the various types of insurance, sales and marketing, as well as the importance of being insured along with the associated risks. The second part of the fundamentals covers the basics of company operation and other topics such as billing and payment, processing claims, policy renewal and pricing.
</p><p>Medical expense is one of the next core classes. You study types of reimbursement for medical care expenses, underwriting, pricing and sales during this course. Supplemental health is the final core class where you can explore the various types of supplemental coverage for things like dental, vision, special risks or specified diseases. You learn valuable skills like assessing gaps in a policy and identifying the need for coverage to protect against financial risk.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreMyOptionsForElectives">What Are My Options for Electives?</h3><p>You have the option of completing two of three electives.
</p><p>The first elective class is in disability. If an individual becomes disabled, government assistance may not be enough to cover the associated costs. This class focuses on the need for disability insurance and how it reduces the risk of coming up short. There are two additional follow-up disability courses for those wishing to specialize in this area.
</p><p>In fraud, you will learn to use your detective skills as you investigate fraud by consumers, agents and others. Methods of discovering and deterring fraud are covered in this course. This class also gives you an in-depth look at anti-fraud laws and what is legal.
</p><p>The long term care course focuses on the need for long-term care for the elderly. You can learn about different programs like Medicare and Medicaid. You also study how long-term care insurance works along with the need for coverage and current industry issues.</p>
