Emergency medical costs are one of the things that can cause a huge dent in a person’s savings. Because health insurance only covers a portion of a patient’s medical bills, most of the amount incurred by an individual has to be paid straight out of his or her own pocket.
The task of collecting medical debts typically fall on health care providers. However, if the debtor makes no attempt to re-pay or if the amount remains unpaid for a long period, a medical facility can outsource this challenging task to medical collections agencies.
If being a medical credit collector appeals to you, here’s how you can jumpstart your career.
What does a medical debt collector do?
A medical debt collector’s main responsibility is to collect overdue bills that may include the amounts owed by a patient from hospital admissions, surgeries, and routine medical check-ups. Collectors are an employee of the hospital or doctor’s office. Most medical facilities, however, outsource medical billing services and tap private firms to collect overdue bills.
How to find a job as a medical debt collector
In most cases, employers require applicants to have a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) in order to apply for this position.
If you have them, prepare your resume and other required documents to start your job-hunting activities. These channels are the best ways to find a job as a medical debt collector:
Tap your connections. The best job opportunities are not always advertised, so it’s always a good idea to reach out to your network for some leads. Talk to your professors, school staff, colleagues, friends, and school alumni to see whether they can recommend medical billing companies with job vacancies or if they can link you to key persons in the organization.
Expand your social network. You can join professional associations, attend events for the graduates of your school, connect with professionals who work in your field, and take every chance you get to meet up, in person or online, with industry players.
Create an account on career and job sites. Companies announce job opportunities on various career sites, and all you have to do is check these pages online. Make sure that the site is legitimate before creating an account. After logging in, you can immediately start the process; filter and tweak the search categories to look for medical debt collector jobs.
Attend job-related activities. Job fairs can either be targeted to a specific sector or to the general industry audiences. Announcements prior to the event itself list out all participating organizations. Check which medical billing organizations will be present and prepare your customized cover letter and resume.
Job Boards. You can also try your job-hunting success offline through job boards, although these boards are also available online. Most universities have page sections that allow companies and organizations to post job vacancies. If not, check whether your school has a job board where work opportunities may be available. State government offices have these widely accessible job boards, as well.
Company Websites. If you have a list of dream employers in mind, go directly to the career section of each company’s website. If you track job openings on their sites that fit your profile, background, and experience, grab the opportunity. Although it could take some time, it may be the best way to snag your dream job if you’re willing to skip other types of jobs.
Cold Calling. If you’re eyeing specific companies, be proactive, and contact these medical billing and collections companies directly. Connect to them through phone or e-mail to ask if they can accommodate you. Ask about upcoming vacancies, and attach a copy of your resume. If they’re not hiring, request an informational interview if they’re open to it.
Third-party recruiters. If you’re willing to shell out some cash and skip the difficulties of job searching, seek the help of headhunters and recruitment agencies. If you’re hired through an employment agency, the company will likely take charge of the payment.
Some companies and hiring firms coordinate with high schools and universities to launch their own job placement activities.
Internships. If it’s taking too long to land employment and money is not a major issue, consider taking an internship. According to a survey, interns have a high chance of getting hired by companies they interned with, with 7 out of 10 interns snagging a job position.
How much does a medical debt collector make?
As of May 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded some 18,000 workers as billing and account collectors in doctors’ offices, earning an average of $38,220.00 yearly.
The Takeaway
Job hunting can be tedious and time-consuming, but industry jobs in the health sector, such as medical billing, remain in demand.
Being a medical debt collector requires a specific skill set and qualifications, which varies from one company to another. But, as in most job positions, a previous work experience related to the job gives you an edge over other applicants.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
