The Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org) is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. Medicare Rights’ unique blend of service, education, and advocacy ensures that real consumer experiences reach the highest levels of policymaking and that policies and laws adopted at state and federal levels are translated for consumers and effectively implemented. Each year, Medicare Rights answers more than three million questions for older adults and people with disabilities through a helpline and online assistance and collaborates with diverse stakeholders to improve the Medicare program.
The Position—Client Services Associate Counsel
Medicare Rights is seeking a full-time Client Services Associate Counsel. The Client Services Associate Counsel is a dedicated health advocacy counselor with a legal background who will develop a specialty in Medicare and Medicaid law, including long-term care services such as home and community-based supports, managed care, and eligibility. The Medicare Rights Center is a participating agency in the Independent Consumer Advocacy Network (ICAN), which provides beneficiaries with information, education, advice, health care navigation services, and appeal representation.
We are seeking to recruit motivated individuals to help solve health insurance and eligibility-related issues for individuals with Medicare and Medicaid with long-term care services in addition to providing individual Medicare and/or Medicaid-related counseling to consumers, caregivers, and professionals through dedicated programs.
Specific Responsibilities
Activities to be pursued by the Client Services Associate Counsel include the following:
- Provide telephone and email counseling to consumers and professionals with questions about Medicare and Medicaid. Collect relevant information, assist ICAN clients with complex casework, and troubleshoot a range of coverage and access issues.
- Efficiently manage a large caseload of clients with any combination of health conditions, medical illnesses, disabilities, and write and submit health insurance appeals.
- Answer questions and help solve health insurance-related issues for individuals with Medicare and Medicaid with long-term care services.
- Apply information about health insurance policy, benefits, and related laws to their clients’ rights.
- Maintain thorough case records of services provided, advice, appeals, and/or referrals.
- Maintain accurate, quality call records relevant to Medicare trends to inform and strengthen Medicare Rights’ policy work and educational resources.
- Assist with related low-income benefits enrollment work, including screening clients for benefits.
- Database entry, administrative, and clerical responsibilities as assigned.
- Train network professionals on Medicare and related issues.
- Help coordinate special projects as needed and other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, organized team player. Specific qualifications include the following:
- An advanced degree, such as a law degree, is preferred.
- Experience providing customer service or client engagement, whether in-person or by phone.
- Ability to type and write clearly, concisely, persuasively and keep detailed notes of all communications.
- Empathy and ability to convey complex information in a consumer-friendly manner.
- Ability to connect consumer experience to broader Medicare and health policy reforms.
- Curiosity and commitment to learning and professional development.
- Organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
- Ability to demonstrate patience, competence, and care for other people’s welfare through oral and written communication.
- Experience or knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and/or public health issues is preferred, but not required.
- A strong interest and commitment to client advocacy.
- Spanish language fluency is a plus.
Salary is commensurate with experience. Salary range is from $50,000 to $70,000 year. The Medicare Rights Center offers a generous benefits package.
Application Instructions
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified individuals. Medicare Rights supports a culture of learning and professional growth. Those who meet many, but not all of the qualifications are still encouraged to apply.
We kindly ask that only individuals authorized to work in the United States apply; we cannot offer visa sponsorship.
Qualified applicants should send a cover letter and resume to: [email protected] with “Client Services Associate Counsel” in the subject line. Cover letter files should be labeled “Last Name – Cover Letter,” and resumes should be labeled “Last Name – Resume.” No phone calls, please.