Benefit Specialist Trainee - Long Term Disability

C3035 Unum Group; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 40,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO + volunteering time

Tuition reimbursement

Student loan repayment

401(k) match

Health insurance

Flexible work environment

Job summary

Unum, a Fortune 500 leader in employee benefits, seeks an entry-level Benefits Organization trainee to learn the claims process. You will be mentored for 6-12 months, handling a caseload while developing knowledge of contracts, policies, and decision-making procedures.

This role emphasizes customer service and professional growth within a supportive team. Starting wage is competitive; the program includes formal mentorship, learning resources, and opportunities to advance to an exempt level

Qualifications

• College degree preferred or equivalent work experience.
• Customer service / decision making experience and/or college experience.
• Able to utilize claim investigative techniques to identify and evaluate claim information in a fair and objective manner.
• Detail oriented; able to analyze and research a variety of complex contractual information.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and balance goals and priorities effectively.

Responsibilities

• Develop skills to manage a caseload of complex claims; ensuring appropriate sign offs are obtained.
• Develop an understanding and working knowledge of Unum products, policies/procedures and contracts.
• Develop an understanding of applicable contract/policy definitions and relevant provisions for claim products.
• Apply contract/policy knowledge to ensure appropriate eligibility, liability decisions and payee.
• Produce objective, clear documentation and rationale for all claim determinations and communicate recommendations.

Skills

Customer service

Decision making

Analytical thinking

Multi-tasking

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

College degree preferred

Job description

When you join the team at Unum, you become part of an organization committed to helping you thrive. Here, we work to provide the employee benefits and service solutions that enable employees at our client companies to thrive throughout life’s moments. And this starts with ensuring that every one of our team members enjoys opportunities to succeed both professionally and personally. To enable this, we provide:

• Award-winning culture
• Inclusion and diversity as a priority
• Performance Based Incentive Plans
• Competitive benefits package that includes:
  1. Health
  2. Vision
  3. Dental
  4. Short & Long-Term Disability
  5. Generous PTO (including paid time to volunteer!)
  6. Up to 9.5% 401(k) employer contribution
  7. Mental health support
  8. Career advancement opportunities
  9. Student loan repayment options
  10. Tuition reimbursement
  11. Flexible work environments
• All the benefits listed above are subject to the terms of their individual Plans

And that’s just the beginning… With 10,000 employees helping more than 39 million people worldwide, every role at Unum is meaningful and impacts the lives of our customers. Whether you’re directly supporting a growing family, or developing online tools to help navigate a difficult loss, customers are counting on the combined talents of our entire team. Help us help others, and join Team Unum today!

General Summary

Minimum starting hourly rate is $25.97. This is an entry level position within the Benefits Organization. Incumbents in this role are considered trainees and are assigned a formal mentor for 6-12 months until they are assessed as capable of independent work. Incumbents are primarily responsible for learning and developing knowledge and behaviors necessary to successfully adjudicate assigned claims, using critical thinking and independent judgment in accordance with our claims philosophy and policies and procedures. Incumbent must demonstrate the ability to effectively manage an assigned caseload, have knowledge of and utilize reporting tools and metrics, the ability to exercise discretion, critical thinking and independent judgment to synthesize various sources of information (interactions with claimants, employers, financial, medical, vocational, contractual and legal) to provide timely claim decision recommendations to QCC/Director with minimal support from Mentor/Director, and demonstrate strong customer service prior to movement to exempt level benefits specialist role.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop skills to manage a caseload of complex claims; ensuring appropriate sign offs are obtained. Caseload size may vary by product(s).
• Develop an understanding and working knowledge of Unum products, policies/procedures and contracts.
• Develop an understanding of the applicable contract/policy definitions and relevant provisions, clauses, exclusions, riders and waivers as well as regulatory and statutory requirements for claim products administered.
• Apply contract/policy knowledge and analyze technical and complex contractual knowledge (policies and provisions) to ensure appropriate eligibility requirements, liability decisions and appropriate payee.
• Develop problem solving skills by demonstrating analytical/ logical thinking.
• Take accountability of the service you provide to internal and external customers with a commitment to creating exceptional customer experiences.
• Recognizing multiple service connections through team-based approach and resource partnerships, optimizing results by choosing the best strategies resulting in fair and objective claim decisions.
• Verify on-going liability and develop strategies for return-to-work opportunities as appropriate.
• Develop and strengthen claim validation and return to work techniques, where applicable.
• Produce objective, clear documentation and technical rationale for all claim determinations and demonstrate the ability to effectively verbally communicate determinations and recommendations.
• Develop knowledge and effectively utilize a broad spectrum of supported resources (to include financial, medical, vocational and BRI support), materials and tools regarding contractual, disability and RTW strategies, as required.
• Develop an operating knowledge of the applicable claims system(s).
• Coordinate and share information with other products as appropriate.
• Provide timely and excellent customer service by paying appropriate claims promptly and quickly responding to all inquiries.
• Maintain expected service and quality standards on all assigned claims.
• Protects the Company against extra-contractual liabilities by following established guidelines and regulations.
• Understanding and demonstration of Our Values and Leadership expectations.
• Take ownership and accountability for career and skill development by demonstrating commitment to personal growth and professional development.
• Assist in creating an environment that is nimble, creative, and decisive through a culture of curiosity.
• Be open to and accepting of change and identify continuous improvement efforts.
• Take accountability to be an effective and positive change management champion.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Job Specifications

• College Degree preferred or equivalent work experience.
• Customer service / decision making experience and/or College experience.
• Able to utilize claim investigative techniques to identify and evaluate claim information in a fair and objective manner.
• Including appropriate identification of resources needed to assist with decision making process for file direction.
• Detail oriented; able to analyze and research a variety of complex contractual information.
• Able to maintain a high level of confidence to make fair and appropriate decisions even in the face of disagreement, while also being open and flexible to changing opinion based on new information.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with a sense of urgency and make balanced claim decisions and recommend direction with the highest degree of integrity and fairness.
• Able to influence others to reach appropriate and constructive conclusions.
• PC skills are essential; ability to operate effectively in an imaged environment.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and balance goals and priorities effectively in a highly complex and ever-changing environment.
• Self-motivated, independent with proven ability to work effectively on a team and work with others in a highly collaborative team environment.
• Strong mathematical aptitude is essential.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Strong communication; verbal, written, and listening, as well as strong interpersonal skills.
• Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Unum and Colonial Life are part of Unum Group, a Fortune 500 company and leading provider of employee benefits to companies worldwide. Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, with international offices in Ireland, Poland and the UK, Unum also has significant operations in Portland, ME - plus over 35 US field offices. Colonial Life is headquartered in Columbia, SC, with over 40 field offices nationwide.

The base salary range for applicants for this position is listed below. Unless actual salary is indicated above in the job description, actual pay will be based on skill, geographical location and experience. $40,000.00-$75,600.00

Unum is an equal opportunity employer, considering all qualified applicants and employees for hiring, placement, and advancement, without regard to a person's race, color, religion, national origin, age, genetic information, military status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or protected veteran status.

Unum Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for any applicant with a disability. If you are disabled and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or hiring process, please contact us by submitting a request here.

At Unum Group, we’re a Fortune 500 company and leading international provider of workplace benefits and services, helping workers and their families thrive for more than 175 years. Through our Unum and Colonial Life brands, our company offers disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental and vision insurance; leave and absence management support; and behavioral health services. Our 10,000+ employees work across operations in the US, UK and Poland, as well as our dedicated Technology Centre in Ireland.