Benefits Technician GHI (Department Promotion Only)

Government of the Virgin Islands; Christiansted (United States Virgin Islands); On-site; USD 36,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Government of the Virgin Islands is seeking an entry-level administrative support staff for the Group Health Insurance (GHI) unit. The role focuses on assisting with benefits administration, death claim processing for beneficiaries, and coordinating enrollment and communications for active employees and retirees.

Responsibilities include handling death claims, informing beneficiaries about benefits, maintaining records, and supporting HR-related training and events.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of federal and local health insurance laws and GHI regulations.
• Strong customer service and professionalism.
• Ability to organize and manage time effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel and HR systems.

Responsibilities

• Process death claims for beneficiaries of deceased policyholders in the GHI program.
• Inform beneficiaries of available benefits amounts and burial arrangements.
• Verify policy information with local or mainland funeral homes and funding companies.
• Conduct research to assist families of unprocessed death claims.
• Prepare monthly statistical reports of deaths and total life insurance payouts.
• Coordinate wellness, open enrollment, HR trainings and GHI events.
• Handle incoming mail and log payments for insurance and deliver to Benefits Analyst.
• Assist Benefits Analysts with enrollment forms for address changes, beneficiary updates, and life changes during events.
• Process child support orders regarding health insurance coverage for dependents.
• Verify employee records for family medical plans and return mail to PCSD.
• Maintain confidentiality of policyholder information and provide client service to active employees and retirees.
• Participate in training and professional development to stay current with policies.

Skills

Customer service

Professionalism

Organization & time management

Effective communication

Confidentiality

Independent work

Deadline-driven

Motor vehicle operation

After-hours availability

Education

Associate degree in Business Administration or related field

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

HR systems

Job description

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Group Health Insurance (GHI) or unit supervisor, this position is responsible for providing staff support for the efficient flow of services of the Group Health Insurance (GHI) unit. An employee in this class also ensures that beneficiaries receive life-insurance pay-outs and provides assistance with communicating the benefits packages to active employees and retirees. This is entry-level administrative support work that attends to a variety of staff support functions in and out of the GHI office. Work is performed in accordance with established policies and procedures where considerable initiative and good judgment is required in the application and interpretation of rules and regulations. Work is reviewed through meetings, consultations, reports, and various GHI related functions dailyProcesses all death claims for the beneficiaries of deceased policyholders of the GHI program. Informs beneficiaries of available benefits amounts and burial arrangements. Verifies policy information with local or mainland funeral homes and funding companies. Conducts research to provide assistance to families of unprocessed death claims.

• Processes all death claims for the beneficiaries of deceased policyholders of the GHI program.
• Informs beneficiaries of available benefits amounts and burial arrangements.
• Verifies policy information with local or mainland funeral homes and funding companies.
• Conducts research to provide assistance to families of unprocessed death claims.
• Provides assistance to minor beneficiaries with receiving benefit pay-out at the age of eighteen (18).
• Prepares monthly statistical reports of deaths reported and total amount of life insurance pay-outs.
• Requests information and supporting documents on homicide cases with VIPD, Department of Justice, and the coroner’s office for death claim processing.
• Provides assistance with the collection of unpaid premiums owed to the GVI to process claims.
• Maintains all death records by filing, scanning, and uploading pertinent documents into the system.
• Privy to highly confidential information, maintains confidentiality and employee confidence by keeping benefit information confidential.
• Provides assistance with the coordination of wellness, open enrollment, HR Officers trainings, BenTek support weekly meetings, and all other GHI events.
• Handles, processes, and distributes all incoming mail into the GHI office. Logs all incoming payments including credit cards, checks, and money orders for insurance payments and delivers to Benefits Analyst.
• Provides assistance to Benefits Analysts by providing client service support to active employees and retirees of the GHI program with the completion of enrollment forms for address change, updating beneficiaries, add/drop spouses or dependents, increase or decrease life insurance during open enrollment or a qualifying event.
• Processes child support orders regarding health insurance coverage for employee’s dependents.
• Verifies employee record of parents’ medical plan and return mail correspondences to PCSD.
• Participates in training opportunities and professional development-related events to stay abreast of changing policies and procedures and maintain professional networks.
• Provides customer service on benefits, resolves issues, and works directly with management to ensure results and solutions.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Associate degree in Business Administration or any closely related field and two (2) years of experience in benefits administration. OR High School Diploma or its equivalent from an accredited institution and four (4) years of experience in benefits administration.

FACTOR 1- KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

• Knowledge of the federal and local laws related to health insurance, departmental rules and regulations, policies, and procedures governing the group health insurance (GHI) plan.
• Knowledge of health insurance policies, practices as it pertains to medical, dental, and life insurance benefits issued by the health insurance provider.
• Skill in professionalism and customer service.
• Skill in organization and time management.
• Skill in computer software and applications including Microsoft Office, Excel, and other HR systems.
• Ability to comply with government and local regulations and plan provisions to ensure equitable administration to GVI employees and beneficiaries.
• Ability to show compassion to beneficiaries of deceased employees and retirees of the GHI program.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all persons contacted during work.
• Ability to maintain alphabetical and numerical files.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and address issues as they arise.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently within strict deadlines as part of a team.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to work after hours on weekends at unit events if necessary.

FACTOR 2- SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

• The incumbent is given general work or special assignments by the Chief or designee, who distributes assignments, provides instructions regarding changes in policies and procedures, and reviews work upon completion. The incumbent is expected to perform with some degree of independence and should be able to use initiative in the completion of work. Work is reviewed regularly through meetings, consultation, and reports on related GHI functions.

FACTOR 3- GUIDELINES

• Guidelines include the Virgin Islands Code, operating manuals issued by BenTek and the insurance carriers, rules and regulations, policies, and procedures governing the group insurance program.

FACTOR 4- COMPLEXITY

• The employee performs a variety of recurring duties. Work is general and repetitive in nature. The incumbent is expected to follow the guidelines set by the Group Health Insurance carriers, maintain confidentiality of policyholder benefit information, and displays compassion. The incumbent exercises good judgment and initiative but refers unusual situations to management for resolution.

FACTOR 5- SCOPE AND EFFECT

• The purpose of work is to facilitate management with the administration of the group health insurance plan and to provide staff support to ensure the smooth operation of the insurance program to active and retired government employees.

FACTOR 6- PERSONAL CONTACTS

• Contacts are coworkers, other GHI staff, management, HR officers, departments/agencies officials, agencies representatives, insurance carriers, consultants, vendors, policyholders, and beneficiaries made in person, by telephone, email and/or mail.

FACTOR 7- PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

• Contacts are made to obtain, provide, update, or request pertinent information relative to medical, dental, vision and life insurance for active GVI employees, retirees, and their beneficiaries required by the insurance carrier or the GHI Unit.

FACTOR 8- PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work is mostly sedentary but frequently requires light to moderate physical effort during GHI events and open enrollment.

FACTOR 9- WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in an air-conditioned office setting with some disagreeable conditions and may require some travel to events and training.