Client Service Representative

OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Labor Relations seeks a dedicated Insurance Advisor to support the Retiree Client Service Department, handling health benefits inquiries, enrollment guidance, and reimbursement processes for a large retiree population.

You will assist retirees and employees with enrollment, coordinate with health insurers and pension systems, and respond to inquiries by phone and email. NYC residency requirements apply, with a pathway to 55-a program consideration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus one year of paid experience in fire, casualty or surety insurance as a corporate insurance manager, agent, underwriter or broker; or
• High school graduation or GED with five years of experience in the last six years in insurance roles; or
• A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience, with high school graduation and one year of recent insurance experience.

Responsibilities

• Respond to telephone inquiries from retirees, employees, and dependents.
• Guide employees and retirees through health insurance enrollment processes.
• Coordinate with operations, carriers, and pension systems to resolve complex health insurance cases.
• Manage inquiries received via email.
• Assist with Medicare Part B reimbursement enrollment and IRMAA applications.
• Research Medicare Part B and IRMAA issues to provide solutions.
• Provide COBRA counseling and benefits guidance to survivors.

Skills

Customer service

Telephone etiquette

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

High school diploma or GED

Job description

The Office of Labor Relations (OLR) represents the Mayor in the conduct of all labor relations between the City of New York and labor unions representing employees of the City. The Commissioner serves on behalf of the Mayor as the City’s liaison with both labor and management in the private sector. The office is authorized by Executive Order 38 (February 7, 1967), amended by Executive Order 13 (July 24, 1990). Additionally, OLR administers the Health Benefits Program, Management Benefits Fund, Employee Assistance Program, Work Well NYC, Medicare Part B Reimbursement and Pre-Tax Benefits & Citywide Programs including the Deferred Compensation Plan and NYCE IRA. In addition to negotiating collective bargaining agreements, OLR serves as a resource to agencies with regard to workforce labor issues and works with the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC) to pursue innovations in a variety of areas, particularly regarding City health insurance programs. The staff at OLR assist their fellow agencies in handling personnel and payroll issues, conducting labor-management meetings, representing the City at representation hearings, and handling all employee grievances and arbitration matters while also negotiating collective bargaining agreements with the City’s 149 bargaining units.

Job Description

The Retiree Client Service Department consists of ten (10) Client Service Representatives and one (1) Supervisor who provide critical customer service to approximately 270,000 retired and pre-Medicare City of New York retirees, eligible dependents, and employees preparing for retirement. The unit manages a high-volume workload, handling more than 10,000 telephone calls each month and conducting approximately 300 in-person appointments monthly. The Client Service Representative serves as the primary point of contact for all matters related to retiree health benefits, dependent health coverage, Medicare Part B reimbursement, and retirement health insurance enrollment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Responding to telephone inquiries from retirees, employees, and eligible dependents.
• Guiding employees and retirees through the health insurance enrollment process.
• Assisting retirees with health insurance issues by coordinating with the Operations Unit, health insurance carriers, and pension systems to resolve complex cases.
• Managing and responding to inquiries received via email.
• Assisting retirees with enrollment in the Medicare Part B Reimbursement Program.
• Assisting retirees with Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) reimbursement applications.
• Researching and resolving Medicare Part B and IRMAA reimbursement issues.
• Providing COBRA counseling and benefits guidance to survivors, including line-of-duty survivors.
• Meet quality, quantity, and timeliness standards to achieve individual and department performance goals as defined within the department guidelines.

INSURANCE ADVISOR - 40235

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university plus one year of full-time paid experience within the last six years in fire, casualty or surety insurance as a corporate insurance manager, insurance agent, insurance underwriter or insurance broker; or
• High school graduation or evidence of having passed an examination for the high school equivalency diploma or the U.S. Armed Forces G.E.D. certificate with a score of at least 35 on each of the five tests and an overall score of at least 225 in the examination for the certificate; plus five years of satisfactory experience within the last six years as described in the above;
• A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience. However, all candidates must be high school graduates with at least one year of experience in the last six years as described in the above.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.