Benefits Eligibility Specialist

Health Care for the Homeless; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Health Care for the Homeless seeks a Benefits Eligibility Specialist to educate and advocate for clients navigating Maryland insurance processes. The role partners with clinical and billing staff to verify eligibility, guide enrollment, and ensure timely follow-up.

You will document in EHR and various portals, answer inquiries, and support underserved populations while maintaining HIPAA compliance and confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Requires High School Diploma or GED, BES I and BES II certifications.
• Two years of experience preferred for BES II; one year for BES I.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred; strong customer service and confidentiality necessary.

Responsibilities

• Educate and counsel clients on Medicaid/Medicare eligibility and enrollment.
• Interview applicants to screen benefits eligibility and collect required documentation.
• Assist with enrollment in QHP/QDP options and related programs; monitor cases.
• Enter information accurately into EHR and portal systems; maintain timely follow-ups.
• Answer calls promptly and respond to voicemails within one business day.
• Coordinate with clinical and operational staff to ensure eligibility before services.

Skills

Customer service

Confidentiality

Calm under pressure

Teamwork

Bilingual Spanish

Education

High School Diploma or GED

BES I Certification

BES II Certification

Tools

Practice management systems

Job description

Bring Your Purpose to Work at Health Care for the Homeless

Join a mission-driven team working to end homelessness through racially equitable health care, housing, and advocacy.

At Health Care for the Homeless, your work changes lives. Each year, we help thousands of people in Baltimore move toward health, stability, and home. We are looking for compassionate, skilled professionals who believe everyone deserves high-quality care, dignity, and a safe place to call home.

Here, you will do meaningful work alongside colleagues who are collaborative, equity-centered, and deeply committed to community wellness. Whether you provide direct care, support operations, lead programs, or advocate for change, your contribution helps build a more just and healthier Baltimore.

Why HCH Is The Best Choice For Purpose-driven Professionals

• Mission with impact: Be part of a team working every day to end homelessness in Baltimore and beyond.
• People-first culture: Work in a collaborative environment grounded in compassion, authenticity, hope, racial equity, and social justice.
• Room to grow: Access training, professional development, and support that help you strengthen your skills and advance your career.
• Meaningful benefits: Enjoy affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage; generous paid time off; employer-supported retirement; paid parental leave; and loan repayment opportunities for eligible roles.
• Work that matters: Help deliver whole-person care, housing support, and advocacy to people who deserve dignity, respect, and stability.

If you are ready to use your talent for something bigger, HCH is ready for you. Bring your expertise, your heart, and your commitment to justice—and help create a Baltimore where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy and housed.

Position Overview

The Benefits Eligibility Specialist is a responsible for educating, advocating and counseling clients and/or their authorized representatives in navigating Maryland state and federal insurance processes. This role serves as a subject matter expert on Medicaid and Medicare insurance, working closely with practice operations and billing staff to affirm insurance status and with clinical staff to provide consultation and guidance for client inquiries concerning insurance coverage.

Key Role Responsibilities

• Perform all duties of a Certified Application Counselor (BES I) or Certified Navigator (BES II) under the standards of the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange.
• Interview applicants to screen for benefits eligibility, verify identity, and to educate on required documentation and conditions to enroll, renew, modify and prevent loss of insurance coverage.
• Provide Health Choice/MCO Navigation and Medicare education in accordance with all state and/or federal guidelines, including explanation of plan options available, program functions, requirements and limiting conditions, affordability and cost-sharing structure, fees and penalties, as well as consumer rights.
• Assist with enrollment into Qualified Health Plan (QHP) and Qualified Dental Plan (QDP) options, Insurance Affordability Programs, Medicare, Medicare Savings programs (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary and Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary).
• Assist eligible clients with completing applications, securing supporting documentation and filing insurance applications. Monitor and track client application, enrollment and dates of coverage; conduct timely follow-up on cases and/or accounts, which includes making phone calls to clients or authorized representative to obtain missing information or items.
• Consistently, accurately and appropriately enter information into the electronic health record, Maryland State Connection portal, NGS Connex (Medicare) and Managed Care Organization portals.
• Answers phone calls in a timely manner and responds to all voicemails within one business day to ensure appropriate follow up for client cases.
• Ensure timely behavioral health prior authorizations are approved for clients per MCO rules and before services are delivered.
• Participate in continuing education training sessions, certification maintenance and periodic insurance update meetings as required by State of Maryland.
• Maintain strictest of confidentiality of client and business information; comply with rules, regulations, policies and procedures of all applicable agency, local, state, federal and regulatory bodies.
• Maintain expertise in eligibility and enrollment rules and procedures; the range of qualified health plan options and insurance affordability programs; the needs of underserved and vulnerable populations; and privacy and security standards.

Key Agency Responsibilities

• Models and reinforces the Health Care for the Homeless core values of dignity, authenticity, hope, justice, passion and balance
• Participates in performance improvement and advocacy activities that support the mission
• Performs other duties on an as-needed basis
• Protects clients’ personal health information by maintaining compliance with HIPAA and other relevant health care related IT security regulations

Knowledge, Experience, And Skills

Formal Education and Training

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Certified Application Counselor, or able to obtain certification within first six months of hire (BES I)
• Certified Health Navigator, or able to obtain certification within first six months in role (BES II)
• Appropriate certification is required as a condition of continued employment

Experience

• One year of experience working with insurance eligibility/verification or similar role required (BES I)
• Two years of experience required (BES II)
• Experience in a community or public health setting working with an underserved population is highly preferred
• Experience working with multiple line telephone systems, computers and practice management systems required
• Bilingual (Spanish) highly preferred

Skills

• Excellent customer service, with ability to clearly communicate verbally and in writing.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality in all circumstances.
• Must be able to remain calm in highly inflammatory circumstances, providing and taking clear direction and maintaining a respectful demeanor.
• High level of motivation, initiative and responsibility.
• Able to work with interdisciplinary teams
• Able to cope with interruptions, be flexible and be a team player

Join us in advancing health equity, expanding access to care, and making home and health possible for our neighbors.

Health Care for the Homeless is an equal opportunity employer.

Notice to Applicants

Health Care for the Homeless participates in E-Verify. All newly hired employees are required to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and provide documentation proving their identity and legal authorization to work in the United States.

We use the E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility in accordance with federal