Eligibility Benefits Specialist

State of Iowa; Iowa (LA); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plans (IPERS)

Job summary

The State of Iowa is seeking an Eligibility Benefits Specialist (Income Maintenance Worker 2) to assist individuals in applying for or renewing Medicaid benefits, with a starting salary of $48,630.40 annually. The role may become hybrid after six months of training and probation, with a standard Monday–Friday schedule 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM and overtime as needed.

Primary duties include analyzing complex policies, collecting data, and determining eligibility, while maintaining strong customer service

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree not required but sixty semester hours or equivalent education/experience is required.
• Strong policy interpretation and applicant evaluation experience.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to work in a team and maintain professional presence.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and interpret complex policies and procedures per state and federal regulations.
• Collect and analyze information from customers and 3rd parties to determine eligibility.
• Communicate effectively via phone, email and in person as needed.
• Meet daily and monthly processing timeframes.
• Prepare written documents and clearly present information orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate strong organization and maintain high attendance.

Skills

Policy interpretation

Customer service

Communication skills

Teamwork

Professional demeanor

Education

Sixty semester hours or equivalent

Job description

HHS, Division of Community Access, Facility and Waiver Eligibility Team, is seeking an Eligibility Benefits Specialist (Job Classification: Income Maintenance Worker 2) to assist vulnerable individuals in applying for or renewing facility or waiver Medicaid benefits.

This is a full-time opportunity, Monday – Friday with a work schedule of 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM with overtime as needed. This position will be domiciled in the nearest full-time HHS office to the candidate selected. This position may become a hybrid position offering the opportunity to work from home after a 6-month training and probationary period.

The starting salary for individuals new to employment with the State of Iowa is $48,630.40 annually for this position. New employees are eligible for a raise after completing their first 6 months.

Core Essential Functions:

• Analyze and interpret complex policies and procedures per state and federal regulations.
• Collect and analyze information from customers and 3rd parties to calculate and determine eligibility.
• Communicate effectively via phone, email and in person as needed.
• Meet daily and monthly processing timeframes.
• Prepare written documents and can clearly present, both in writing and orally.
• Effectively manage an individual workload while working within a team.
• Maintain high attendance.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational and critical thinking skills.
• Comply with all State of Iowa regulations and DHS Employee Handbook work rules.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Critical thinking.
• Policy application experience.
• Strong communication and customer service.
• Professional presence and strong work ethic.
• Solid teamwork and consultation.

Benefits

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage:Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off:Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans:Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts:Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage:Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program:Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs:Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits.

Background Checks

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

All work performed on behalf of Iowa Health and Human Services must occur in the State of Iowa.

Sixty semester hours (or equivalent academic units) from an accredited college or university;

OR

a combination of education and experience substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time public contact work experience obtaining, analyzing and/or evaluating data for each year of the required college education (on the basis that thirty semester hours is equal to one year of work experience);

OR

employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to 18 months of full-time work at a Clerk Advanced level or above involving public contact experience on a regular basis in a service area.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.