Benefit and Leave Specialist

Meritus Health; Hagerstown (MD); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

401k plan

Education assistance

Employee assistance program

Shift differential

Job summary

Meritus Health is seeking a Benefits Specialist to provide responsive support for our health and benefit programs. You will help team members understand their options, complete enrollment changes, and maintain accurate benefit records.

The role involves coordination with HRIS, Payroll, and benefit vendors, plus assisting with open enrollment and education sessions. Strong communication and detail orientation are essential for success at Meritus Health.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of administrative support experience in a human resources department, benefits administration, or medical insurance role.
• Strong customer service skills and a genuine interest in helping employees understand and use their benefits.
• Ability to explain detailed information clearly and respectfully.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate, confidential records.
• Ability to organize competing priorities, manage multiple employee questions and transactions, and follow through within expected timeframes.
• Sound judgment to recognize when an issue requires escalation.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and web-based benefits or human resources systems.

Responsibilities

• Assist team members at all organizational levels with questions about medical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending and health savings accounts; life and AD&D insurance; disability coverage; and voluntary benefits
• Explain available resources and help employees navigate next steps without interpreting plan provisions beyond the role’s authority
• Process new-hire enrollments, qualifying life event changes, beneficiary updates, evidence-of-insurability requests, and other routine benefit transactions
• Review submissions for completeness and follow up when information or documentation is missing
• Maintain accurate and confidential benefit records and supporting documentation
• Review routine reports, identify discrepancies, and coordinate corrections with Benefits leadership, HRIS, Payroll, or benefit vendors
• Provide administrative support for attendance tracking, including maintaining accurate records, reviewing routine attendance information, and routing discrepancies or policy questions to the appropriate leader
• Educate team members through one-on-one assistance, email, printed materials, orientation, the company intranet, and other approved communication channels
• Research routine benefit questions, track open items through resolution, document actions taken, and provide timely updates
• Contact benefit vendors to obtain information and correct routine enrollment or eligibility issues
• Support annual open enrollment, benefit fairs, employee education sessions, and special enrollment activities
• Provide backup support to the Leave Specialist by answering general process questions, directing employees to required forms and resources, and routing leave cases for review
• Escalate complex, sensitive, or policy-related matters to Benefits leadership or the appropriate subject-matter expert

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Record keeping

Communication

MS Office

Time management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree (preferred)

Job description

Meritus Medical Center
Hagerstown, MD 21742, USA

• Pay or shift range: $22.21 USD to $33.32 USD
  The posted range is the budgeted amount for this position. The actual rate of pay will be determined based on several factors, including your relevant experience, education, skills, internal equity, and alignment with Meritus Health’s compensation practices.

Description

Help Team Members NavigateTheir Benefits with Confidence

Meritus Health is seeking a service-focused and detail-oriented Benefits Specialist to provide responsive support for our health and benefit programs.

In this role, you will help team members understand their benefit options, complete enrollment-related changes, resolve routine questions, and access the appropriate resources. You will also maintain accurate records, support attendance tracking, and collaborate with benefits leadership, the Leave Specialist, HRIS, Payroll, and benefit vendors to provide a consistent and helpful employee experience.

What You’ll Do

• Assist team members at all organizational levels with questions about medical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending and health savings accounts; life and AD&D insurance; disability coverage; and voluntary benefits
• Explain available resources and help employees navigate next steps without interpreting plan provisions beyond the role’s authority
• Process new-hire enrollments, qualifying life event changes, beneficiary updates, evidence-of-insurability requests, and other routine benefit transactions
• Review submissions for completeness and follow up when information or documentation is missing
• Maintain accurate and confidential benefit records and supporting documentation
• Review routine reports, identify discrepancies, and coordinate corrections with Benefits leadership, HRIS, Payroll, or benefit vendors
• Provide administrative support for attendance tracking, including maintaining accurate records, reviewing routine attendance information, and routing discrepancies or policy questions to the appropriate leader
• Educate team members through one-on-one assistance, email, printed materials, orientation, the company intranet, and other approved communication channels
• Research routine benefit questions, track open items through resolution, document actions taken, and provide timely updates
• Contact benefit vendors to obtain information and correct routine enrollment or eligibility issues
• Support annual open enrollment, benefit fairs, employee education sessions, and special enrollment activities
• Provide backup support to the Leave Specialist by answering general process questions, directing employees to required forms and resources, and routing leave cases for review
• Escalate complex, sensitive, or policy-related matters to Benefits leadership or the appropriate subject-matter expert

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Two years of administrative support experience in a human resources department, benefits administration, or medical insurance role
• Strong customer service skills and a genuine interest in helping employees understand and use their benefits
• Ability to explain detailed information clearly and respectfully
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate, confidential records
• Ability to organize competing priorities, manage multiple employee questions and transactions, and follow through within expected timeframes
• Sound judgment to recognize when an issue requires escalation
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and web-based benefits or human resources systems
• Ability to research routine questions, follow established procedures, and work independently and collaboratively
• Basic knowledge of employee benefit terminology and applicable privacy requirements, or the ability to learn them quickly

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in business, human resources, or a related field
• Experience assisting employees with benefit programs
• Benefits or human resources certification

Caring for Our Team We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees' well-being and professional growth. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance available starting the 1st of the month following date of hire, along with life insurance, & short and long-term disability coverage. Paid Time Off begins accruing from day one, and we also provide a 401k plan, an education assistance program, and an employee assistance program. Additionally, employees working evening, night, or weekend shifts may be eligible for a shift differential, adding even more value to your role.

Happy to Help

At Meritus, we believe in a collaborative and caring work environment. Interactions are an opportunity to learn, listen and to be there for one another. Therefore, we provide warm welcomes, hospitality-driven closures, and are always Happy to Help.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.