Medical Insurance Biller: Job Duties, Occupational Outlook, and Education Prerequisites

Medical insurance billers determine which fees on a hospital record will be charged to the patient's insurance company and which are charged to the patient. Some billers have only a high school diploma, while others have certificates in medical billing from community or junior colleges. Get more information about the requirements for this career here. Schools offering Insurance Billing & Coding Specialist degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

What You Need to Know

Medical insurance billers prepare itemized statements, calculate charges, and submit patient claims to insurance companies. A high school diploma or equivalent is required for this career, although career prospects may improve for applicants who have completed a certificate program.

Programs Related associate's degree and certificate programs are available
Responsibilities Prepare and submit patient claims; communicate with insurance companies to correct billing errors
Average Salary (2017) $38,460 (all billing and posting clerks)
Projected Job Growth (2016-2026) 14% (all billing and posting clerks)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

What Job Duties Can I Expect?

A medical insurance biller prepares and submits charges to insurance companies. A biller must establish patient accounts and ensure billing is correctly processed. If necessary, billers may be called upon to resolve any discrepancies and communicate with insurance companies to correct billing errors. In some instances, billers may review claims for quality assurance purposes and prior to mediation. As a medical insurance biller, you should have good interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills. You should also be detail-oriented and trustworthy since you're handling a lot of sensitive patient information.

What are the Educational Requirements?

Medical insurance billers need to have at least a high school education, but most employers prefer to hire those with a college education. Billers with an associate's degree from a community college or vocational school typically earn higher salaries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Advancement to supervisory roles is possible for billers who have high levels of training and experience. Notably, certificate programs for medical records or health information technicians include courses in the following areas:

  • Anatomy
  • Medical terminology
  • Biology
  • Physiology
  • Computer billing software
  • Healthcare statistics
  • Classification and coding systems
  • Healthcare reimbursement processes

What is the Growth Outlook for this Career?

The BLS reported that there were 501,000 billing and posting clerks employed in 2016. The Bureau predicts that the employment of billing and posting clerks, including medical insurance billers, will grow by 14% from 2016-2026, which is faster than the national average. Although most insurance billing jobs are located in offices, some medical billers are self-employed and may work from home. The average annual salary of billing and posting clerks in May 2017 was $38,460, per the BLS.

In addition to increased job opportunities for candidates with a related certification, such as the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), having computer skills can also improve your chances of landing a position in this career field.


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