A career as a health benefits administrator allows you to assist employees in understanding, managing, and choosing their health insurance coverage. To learn more about the job requirements and employment outlook, read on.
Career Overview
As a health benefits administrator, your main job focus is helping employees manage their health benefits. You serve as the main contact for employees regarding their benefits and it's your job to make sure they understand every aspect of the coverage being offered. You'll explain the policy options and other details of the health benefits offered by the employer. You may answer questions, make suggestions, and assist individuals in planning their coverage.
In addition to helping employees, you'll manage the overall health benefits program offered by the employer. You may help make decisions on the benefit options and coverage. It may also be your job to help settle claims and end disputes over coverage.
You must ensure everyone is clear about the benefits being offered. You may create handbooks that explain the benefits program to employees, host sign-up events to help employees apply for coverage, and hold orientation programs to inform new employees of their options. You'll work behind the scenes to ensure all forms, documents, and other items are properly completed, submitted, and managed.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutHealthBenefitsAdministrators"> Important Facts About Health Benefits Administrators</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> On-the-Job Training </td><td> None</td></tr>
<tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Critical thinking, reading comprehension, situational awareness, clear communication, excellent observation and coordination, problem-solving, mathematics foundation</td></tr>
<tr><td> Work Environment </td><td> Office settings</td></tr>
<tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Financial managers; human resources managers; administrative services managers; training and development managers; compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---JobRequirements"> Job Requirements</h3><p>Generally speaking, employers tend to prefer benefits administrators who hold bachelor's degrees in applicable majors. You might, for example, prepare for the career by earning a four-year degree in human resources or business administration. You'll generally also be required to have at least three years of experience in benefits administration. Additionally, employers often favor candidates who hold professional certification, such as the Certified Employee Benefits or Professional in Human Resources designation.
</p><h3 id="section---EmploymentOutlook"> Employment Outlook</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, <i>www.bls.gov</i>), there were 15,700 jobs held by compensation and benefits managers in 2021. Jobs were available in almost every industry for this career. The average annual salary earned by such managers was reported as $139,470 in May 2021 by the BLS. The BLS projected job growth of 2% for these professionals from 2021-2031. Job opportunities were expected to be the best for college graduates who held bachelor's degrees in human resources or related areas, as well as professional certification.</p>
