What Certifications are Needed for a Career in Medical Insurance?

<p>The variety of career paths available in medical insurance means that job seekers in this field may find work without professional certification. Nonetheless, an academic certificate program can help develop sought-after skills and demonstrate an applicant's suitability for medical insurance roles. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, <i>www.bls.gov</i>), most medical insurance employers prefer to hire employees who have professional certification. </p> <p>Those with prior experience in medical insurance may become certified by sitting for certification exams. Those with little or no experience can first enroll in academic courses that prepare them for these same exams. Medical billers or coders (sometimes also referred to as 'medical record technicians' or 'health information technicians') and medical administrative assisting are two main areas in which one can receive medical insurance certification. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutMedicalInsuranceCareers">Important Facts About Medical Insurance Careers</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> </th><th>Medical Records and Health Information Technicians</th><th>Medical Assistants</th></tr> <tr><td> Median Salary (2021) </td><td> $46,660 </td><td> $37,190</td></tr> <tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td> 7% </td><td> 16%</td></tr> <tr><td> Work Environment </td><td>Office environment, spend a lot of time sitting at a computer</td><td> Office environment, may need to work the night shift</td></tr> <tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td>Information Clerks, Medical and Health Service Managers, Medical Transcriptionists</td><td> Dental Assistants, Nursing Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---MedicalBillersOrCoders">Medical Billers or Coders</h3> <p>Medical billers and coders work with medical professionals in preparing and filing medical insurance claims for patients. They have knowledge of standardized medical coding techniques, claims management, claims collection, medical terminology, insurance regulations, and general administrative duties. Employees with certification in medical billing and coding may find entry-level work in the following settings: medical offices, hospitals, clinics, or specialized-care facilities. Certifications include: </p> <ul><li>Certified Medical Billing Specialist (CMBS) </li><li>Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) </li><li>Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) </li><li>Certified Coding Specialist Physician-based (CCS-P) </li><li>Certified Coding Associate (CCA) </li><li>Certified Professional Coder (CPC) </li></ul><h3 id="section---MedicalAdministrativeAssistant">Medical Administrative Assistant</h3> <p>Medical administrative assistants are also known as medical insurance billing technicians, medical insurance billers, patient account representatives and medical insurance technicians. They provide health care facilities with coding support, as well as claims management. They are knowledgeable in billing procedures, filing claims, posting charges and payments, collecting unpaid debts from third-party insurance companies, and verifying relevant patient information. Medical insurance billing technicians should have strong math and analytical skills. Medical insurance billing technicians may work in hospitals, physicians' offices, nursing facilities, rehabilitation facilities, medical firms, and insurance companies. Certifications include: </p> <ul><li>Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) </li><li>Certified Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS)</li></ul>