LTD Benefit Specialist Trainee - Portland

Unum; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 40,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Award-winning culture

Diversity and inclusion

Performance-based incentive plans

Health, Vision, Dental

Short & Long-Term Disability

Generous PTO including volunteer time

401(k) employer contribution up to 9.5

Mental health support

Career advancement opportunities

Student loan repayment options

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible work environments

Job summary

Unum seeks an entry level claims trainee in Portland, ME. You will join a team that adjudicates claims, learn the claims philosophy, and work with mentors for 6–12 months until capable of independent work.

You’ll handle a developing caseload, use reporting tools, and strive for accurate, customer‑focused decisions. As you gain expertise, you’ll contribute to timely decisions, while upholding Unum’s values and service standards.

Qualifications

• Customer service or decision making experience
• Detail oriented and able to analyze complex information
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Strong math, communication and analytical skills

Responsibilities

• Develop skills to manage a caseload of complex claims.
• Learn Unum products, policies, procedures and contracts.
• Apply knowledge to determine eligibility and payees.
• Document clearly and provide timely claim decisions.
• Maintain high service and quality standards on all claims.
• Collaborate with teams to optimize outcomes.

Skills

Customer service

Decision making

Detail oriented

Multitask

Mathematical ability

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Education

College degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Posting End Date: December 31

When you join the team at Unum, you become part of an organization committed to helping you thrive.

Benefits

Here, we work to provide the employee benefits and service solutions that enable employees at our client companies to thrive throughout life’s moments. And this starts with ensuring that every one of our team members enjoys opportunities to succeed both professionally and personally. To enable this, we provide:

• Award-winning culture
• Inclusion and diversity as a priority
• Performance Based Incentive Plans
• Competitive benefits package that includes: Health, Vision, Dental, Short & Long-Term Disability
• Generous PTO (including paid time to volunteer!)
• Up to 9.5% 401(k) employer contribution
• Mental health support
• Career advancement opportunities
• Student loan repayment options
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible work environments
• All the benefits listed above are subject to the terms of their individual Plans.

And that’s just the beginning…

With 10,000 employees helping more than 39 million people worldwide, every role at Unum is meaningful and impacts the lives of our customers. Whether you’re directly supporting a growing family, or developing online tools to help navigate a difficult loss, customers are counting on the combined talents of our entire team. Help us help others, and join Team Unum today!

General Summary

Minimum starting hourly rate is $25.97

This is an entry level position within the Benefits Organization. Incumbents in this role are considered trainees and are assigned a formal mentor for 6-12 months until they are assessed as capable of independent work. Specialists are primarily responsible for learning and developing knowledge and behaviors necessary to successfully adjudicate assigned claims, using critical thinking and independent judgment in accordance with our claims philosophy and policies and procedures.

Specialists must demonstrate the ability to effectively manage an assigned caseload, have knowledge of and utilize reporting tools and metrics, the ability to exercise discretion, critical thinking and independent judgment to synthesize various sources of information (interactions with claimants, employers, financial, medical, vocational, contractual and legal) to provide timely claim decision recommendations to QCC/Director with minimal support from Mentor/Director, and demonstrate strong customer service prior to movement to exempt level benefits specialist role.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop skills to manage a caseload of complex claims; ensuring appropriate sign offs are obtained. Caseload size may vary by product(s).
• Develop an understanding and working knowledge of Unum products, policies/procedures and contracts.
• Develop an understanding of the applicable contract/policy definitions and relevant provisions, clauses, exclusions, riders and waivers as well as regulatory and statutory requirements for claim products administered.
• Apply contract/policy knowledge and analyze technical and complex contractual knowledge (policies and provisions) to ensure appropriate eligibility requirements, liability decisions and appropriate payee.
• Develop problem solving skills by demonstrating analytical/ logical thinking.
• Take accountability of the service you provide to internal and external customers with a commitment to creating exceptional customer experiences.
• Recognizing multiple service connections through team-based approach and resource partnerships, optimizing results by choosing the best strategies resulting in fair and objective claim decisions.
• Verify on-going liability and develop strategies for return-to-work opportunities as appropriate. Develop and strengthen claim validation and return to work techniques, where applicable.
• Produce objective, clear documentation and technical rationale for all claim determinations and demonstrate the ability to effectively verbally communicate determinations and recommendations.
• Develop knowledge and effectively utilize a broad spectrum of supported resources (to include financial, medical, vocational and BRI support), materials and tools regarding contractual, disability and RTW strategies, as required.
• Develop an operating knowledge of the applicable claims system(s).
• Coordinate and share information with other products as appropriate.
• Provide timely and excellent customer service by paying appropriate claims promptly and quickly responding to all inquiries.
• Maintain expected service and quality standards on all assigned claims.
• Protects the Company against extra-contractual liabilities by following established guidelines and regulations.
• Understanding and demonstration of Our Values and Leadership expectations.
• Take ownership and accountability for career and skill development by demonstrating commitment to personal growth and professional development.
• Assist in creating an environment that is nimble, creative, and decisive through a culture of curiosity.
• Be open to and accepting of change and identify continuous improvement efforts.
• Take accountability to be an effective and positive change management champion.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Job Specifications

• College Degree preferred or equivalent work experience
• Customer service / decision making experience and/or College experience.
• Able to utilize claim investigative techniques to identify and evaluate claim information in a fair and objective manner. Including appropriate identification of resources needed to assist with decision making process for file direction.
• Detail oriented; able to analyze and research a variety of complex contractual information.
• Able to maintain a high level of confidence to make fair and appropriate decisions even in the face of disagreement, while also being open and flexible to changing opinion based on new information.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with a sense of urgency and make balanced claim decisions and recommend direction with the highest degree of integrity and fairness.
• Able to influence others to reach appropriate and constructive conclusions.
• PC skills are essential; ability to operate effectively in an imaged environment.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and balance goals and priorities effectively in a highly complex and ever-changing environment.
• Self-motivated, independent with proven ability to work effectively on a team and work with others in a highly collaborative team environment.
• Strong mathematical aptitude is essential.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Strong communication; verbal, written, and listening, as well as strong interpersonal skills.
• Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Unum and Colonial Life are part of Unum Group, a Fortune 500 company and leading provider of employee benefits to companies worldwide. Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, with international offices in Ireland, Poland and the UK, Unum also has significant operations in Portland, ME, and Baton Rouge, LA - plus over 35 US field offices. Colonial Life is headquartered in Columbia, SC, with over 40 field offices nationwide.

Unum is an equal opportunity employer, considering all qualified applicants and employees for hiring, placement, and advancement, without regard to a person's race, color, religion, national origin, age, genetic information, military status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or protected veteran status.

The base salary range for applicants for this position is listed below. Unless actual salary is indicated above in the job description, actual pay will be based on skill, geographical location and experience.

$40,000.00-$75,600.00

Additionally, Unum offers a portfolio of benefits and rewards that are competitive and comprehensive including healthcare benefits (health, vision, dental), insurance benefits (short & long-term disability), performance-based incentive plans, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match up to 5% and an additional 4.5% contribution whether you contribute to the plan or not. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of individual Plans.

Company

Unum