Eligibility Specialist II

Western Growers Assurance Trust; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Growers Assurance Trust is seeking an Eligibility Specialist II to process enrollment and billing tasks across WGAT and PCMI accounts. You will assist clients with eligibility management, explain billing issues, and resolve discrepancies while maintaining HIPAA-compliant data security.

The role requires accuracy, strong communication, and collaboration with internal teams and external partners; prior experience with EDI and healthcare eligibility is preferred.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent; 3–5 years accounting/business experience preferred.
• Knowledge of HIPAA, COBRA, Cal-COBRA and ERISA legislation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Experience handling health care eligibility and billing; strong customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Process enrollment transactions (adds/changes/terminations) for multiple lines of business.
• Handle billing items, explain payments, and resolve discrepancies with clients.
• Perform cash application, account reconciliations, and refunds review.
• Maintain HIPAA-compliant workstation and data security; meet audit standards.
• Produce SOPs and suggest process improvements; assist training as needed.

Skills

Accounting knowledge

Customer service

Time management

Communication skills

Bilingual Spanish

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

HCPS processing system

EDI processing

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARYThis position reports to the Supervisor I, Enrollment and Eligibility. The Eligibility Specialist II requires the ability to process enrollment and billing functions, both automated and manual, with in the company’s processing system necessary to maintain Western Growers Assurance Trust (WGAT) and Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc. (PCMI) accounts) as assigned including groups that submit Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) eligibility. This role will provide customer service support to clients by instructing them on correct eligibility management and explaining billing and payment issues. They will also research and resolve eligibility and billing discrepancies or client inquiries.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESDepartment OperationsProcess all transaction types such as adds, terms, changes, carrier discrepancies and other eligibility related tasks for all lines of business, WGAT, and Pinnacle.Review and process all manual and/or EDI enrollment transactions (adds, changes, terminations) in HCPS as received from the client or internal sources in accordance with Participation Agreements, Employer Policy Statements, Eligibility Guidelines, and Summary Plan Descriptions.Research and correct cash application issues in company’s processing system. Determine and correct out of balance ledger items on accounts. Contact clients to explain and resolve billing and payment discrepancies. Verify or authorize refunds for terminations and overpayments.Perform full reconciliations on accounts in order to confirm that the group is in compliance.Maintain a HIPAA compliant workstation and utilize appropriate security techniques to ensure HIPAA required protection of all confidential/protected client and enrollee data.Meet processing cycle time standards and production due dates as set forth by management.Maintain performance in accordance with established quality standards, as measured by audit metrics. Consistently meet or exceed audit score requirements to ensure accuracy, compliance, and service excellence.Identify inefficiencies within the established processes and suggest possible solutions to save time, reduce risk, and/or reduce expenses.Create and document Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).Identify, initiate, and implement process improvements and/or innovation.Customer ServiceWork with clients to facilitate payments on time and for the billed amount.Provide timely and effective Customer Service to clients for requests, inquiries, or issues concerning enrollment and/or billing items on their account via phone calls by logging into Genesys and taking calls based on daily phone schedule.Interface effectively with internal departments and external vendors, brokers, or other business contacts to coordinate interrelated activities and to resolve eligibility and/or billing issues as they arise.Serve as a representative of Wester Growers and PCMI displaying professionalism, knowledge, customer service, and discretion in all interactions with other members of the Western Growers/PCMI community and their customers.Team DevelopmentProvide guidance, feedback, and support to new team members with processing and listening to their phone calls.Identify training deficiencies and provide feedback to administration leads.Provide backup as subject matter expert for new employees.Demonstrate support and collaboration within the team by offering assistance and providing resources when possible.OtherMaintain integrity and transparency in all tasks, ensuring alignment with team and organizational goals.Hold oneself accountable by taking ownership of actions, decisions, and their outcomes.Reflect on personal performance regularly, identifying areas for improvement and celebrating successes.Commit to continuous learning and growth, seeking feedback and implementing constructive changes.Utilize all capabilities to satisfy one mission — to enhance the competitiveness and profitability of our members. Do everything possible to help members succeed by being curious and striving to understand what others are trying to achieve, planning, and executing work helpfully and collaboratively. Be willing to adjust efforts to ensure that work and attitude are helpful to others, being self-accountable, creating a positive impact, and being diligent in delivering results.Maintain internet speed of 40 MB download and 10 MB upload and router with wired Ethernet.Maintain a HIPAA-compliant workstation and utilize appropriate security techniques to ensure HIPAA- required protection of all confidential/protected client data.Maintain and service safety equipment (e.g., smoke detector, fire extinguisher, first aid kit).All other duties as assigned.PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKENVIRONMENTThe physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with others. The employee frequently is required to move around the office. The employee is often required to use tools, objects, and controls. This noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.QUALIFICATIONSHigh School diploma or equivalent and three (3) to five (5) years of accounting/business experience with knowledge of generally accepted accounting procedures, analytical abilities, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.Intermediate knowledge of generally accepted health care eligibility and billing procedures as well as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), California Continuation Benefits Replacement Act (Cal-COBRA) and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) legislation.Strong experience with Microsoft Office products such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.Strong ability to develop proficiency working with a proprietary health care system.Knowledge of processing Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) file updates in a legacy system.Experience providing customer service to a variety of client contacts via email and telephone.Demonstrated ability to research and resolve technical issues and client problems as they arise with minimal direction.Excellent written and oral communication skills including modern business communications, formatting of professional letters, reports, and phone etiquette.Demonstrated time management skills including, multi-tasking, working under pressure and deadlines, and working independently with minimal supervision or in team environment.Strong knowledge of health insurance operations and industry.Bilingual Spanish, both verbal and written a plus.Ability to work overtime as needed.Internet access provided by a cable or fiber provider with 40 MB download and 10 MB upload speeds.Home router with wired Ethernet (wireless connections and hotspots are not permitted).A designated room for your office or steps taken to protect company informationA functioning smoke detector, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit on site.