Patient Access Specialist

Optum; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Medical Plan options

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life & AD&D Insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Education Reimbursement

Employee Discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Referral Bonus Program

Voluntary Benefits

Job summary

Optum is hiring a Patient Access Specialist in Walnut Creek, CA, with coverage at Pleasanton and Brentwood facilities. The role supports insurance verification, referrals, and payment processing within 40 hours weekly, including evenings. On-site positions offer training and growth opportunities.

Candidates need a high school diploma and 1+ year in a hospital/office/customer service setting. Strong communication and Excel skills are preferred, with a focus on accurate data handling and patient

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 1+ years of experience in a hospital, office, customer service, or phone support role.
• Ability to work full-time shifts between 7:30am and 8:15pm, Monday to Sunday.
• Ability to work at Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, and Brentwood sites as needed.

Responsibilities

• Verifies insurance eligibility and benefits for assigned accounts.
• Contacts payers directly using approved scripting to determine coverage.
• Obtains referral, authorization and pre-certification information and documents it.
• Identifies outstanding balances and assists with collection when due.
• Trains staff on computer systems and new processes.
• Acts as a Superuser for primary computer systems.
• Leads department improvement opportunities and handles special projects.
• Performs duties of a Patient Access Representative.
• Keeps up-to-date knowledge of admission, registration, and pre-registration requirements.

Skills

Customer Service

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Microsoft Office

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Improve the lives of others while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Job Description - Patient Access Specialist (2392009)

Patient Access Specialist - 2392009

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology, to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with care, pharmacy benefits, data, and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits, and career development opportunities. Come makes an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to startCaring. Connecting. Growing together.

ThePatient Access Specialistfunctions as an integral member of the team and is the first point of contact for all persons inquiring about the provider’s practice. The primary role is to organize the practice’s daily activities and paperwork.

This position is full – time, 40 hours a week. Employees are required to work any shift during our hours of 7:30am to 8:15pm Monday to Sunday including the flexibility to work occasional overtime based on business need. We offer on-the-job training.

This position is primarily based in Walnut Creek but does require coverage at two of our other facilities, as needed. Locations include 1450 Treat Blvd – Walnut Creek, CA, 5860 Owens Dr – Pleasanton, CA, and 2400 Balfour Rd – Brentwood, CA.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Verifies insurance eligibility and benefits on all assigned accounts using electronic verification systems or by contacting payers directly to determine level of insurance coverage
• When contacting payers directly, utilizes approved scripting
• Obtains referral, authorization and pre - certification information and documents this information in system
• Identifies outstanding balances from patient’s previous visits and attempts to collect any amount due
• Trains staff on computer systems, new processes, payer updates and assigned reporting
• Functions as a Superuser for primary computer systems
• Proactively identifies and leads department improvement opportunities
• Works on Special Projects as needed
• Performs the duties of a Patient Access Representative
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of specific admission, registration, and pre-registration requirements for all areas

What are the reasons to consider working for UnitedHealth Group? Put it all together - competitive base pay, a full and comprehensive benefit program, performance rewards, and a management team who demonstrates their commitment to your success.Some of our offerings include:

• Paid Time Off which you start to accrue with your first pay period plus 8 Paid Holidays
• Medical Plan options along with participation in a Health Spending Account or a Health Saving account
• Dental, Vision, Life& AD&D Insurance along with Short-term disability and Long-Term Disability coverage
• 401(k) Savings Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Education Reimbursement
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Voluntary Benefits (pet insurance, legal insurance, LTC Insurance, etc.)

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear directions on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma/GED
• 1+ years of experience in a hospital, office setting, customer service setting, or phone support role
• Ability to work full-time in any of our shifts (variable days/shifts - Monday to Sunday between 7:30am to 8:15pm) including the flexibility to work occasional overtime based on business need
• Ability to work at any of our local sites as needed (Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, and Brentwood, CA)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1+ years of experience with prior authorizations
• 1+ years of experience working with electronic health records
• Experience with using Microsoft Office products
• Experience in a Hospital Patient Registration Department, Physician's office, OR any medical setting
• Experience in insurance reimbursement and financial verification
• Experience in requesting and processing financial payments
• Working knowledge of medical terminology
• Understanding of insurance policies and procedures
• Ability to perform basic mathematics for financial payments

Soft Skills:

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The hourly pay for this role will range from $18.00 to $32.00 per hour based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug‑free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

UnitedHealth Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or accommodation for any part of the application process, please call 1-866-566-8715 to be connected to Recruitment Services. Recruitment Services hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

UnitedHealth Group is a registered service mark of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. The UnitedHealth Group name with the dimensional logo, as well as the dimensional logo alone, are both service marks for the UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug‑free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.