Occupation Details
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
Process new insurance policies, modifications to existing policies, and claims forms. Obtain information from policyholders to verify the accuracy and completeness of information on claims forms, applications and related documents, and company records. Update existing policies and company records to reflect changes requested by policyholders and insurance company representatives.
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Interests
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$39,750.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$50,220.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$60,560.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
8,550
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
8,730
+18 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
828
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.0%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- 10-key calculators
- Desktop computers
- Dictation machines
Technology
- Account management software
- Automated information system software
- Billing software
- Database software
- GroupMe
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- IBM Check Processing Control System CPSC
- IBM Lotus Notes
- InSystems Calligo Enterprise
- Insurance rating software
- Medical procedure coding software
- MicroFocus GroupWise
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Office
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- distribute correspondence or mail
- operate business machines
- recommend claim action
- collect payment
- provide customer service
- maintain records, reports, or files
- maintain records, reports, or files
- fill out business or government forms
- fill out business or government forms
- type letters or correspondence
- type letters or correspondence
- maintain inventory of office forms
- maintain inventory of office forms
- follow contract, property, or insurance laws
- follow contract, property, or insurance laws
- use oral or written communication techniques
- interview customers
- review data on insurance applications or policies
- review data on insurance applications or policies
- review records for completeness
- examine documents for completeness, accuracy, or conformance to standards
- transcribe spoken or written information
- transcribe spoken or written information
- take messages
- maintain telephone logs
- maintain insurance records
- maintain insurance records
- calculate insurance premiums or awards
- calculate insurance premiums or awards
- compute financial data
- verify signatures for financial transactions
- examine financial documents to verify issue
- code data from records
- search legal records
- examine files or documents to obtain information
- obtain information from individuals
- obtain information from individuals
- review insurance policies to determine appropriate coverage
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Calculate premiums, refunds, commissions, adjustments, or new reserve requirements, using insurance rate standards.
- Enter insurance- and claims-related information into database systems.
- Modify, update, or process existing policies and claims to reflect any change in beneficiary, amount of coverage, or type of insurance.
- Organize or work with detailed office or warehouse records, maintaining files for each policyholder, including policies that are to be reinstated or cancelled.
- Prepare insurance claim forms or related documents, and review them for completeness.
- Pay small claims.
- Calculate amount of claim.
- Post or attach information to claim file.
- Transmit claims for payment or further investigation.
- Contact insured or other involved persons to obtain missing information.
- Review insurance policy to determine coverage.
- Process and record new insurance policies and claims.
- Process, prepare, and submit business or government forms, such as submitting applications for coverage to insurance carriers.
- Organize or work with detailed office or warehouse records, using computers to enter, access, search or retrieve data.
- Provide customer service, such as limited instructions on proceeding with claims or referrals to auto repair facilities or local contractors.
- Correspond with insured or agent to obtain information or to inform them of account status or changes.
- Review and verify data, such as age, name, address, and principal sum and value of property, on insurance applications and policies.
- Compare information from application to criteria for policy reinstatement, and approve reinstatement when criteria are met.
- Examine letters from policyholders or agents, original insurance applications, and other company documents to determine if changes are needed and effects of changes.
- Transcribe data to worksheets, and enter data into computer for use in preparing documents and adjusting accounts.
- Collect initial premiums and issue receipts.
- Check computations of interest accrued, premiums due, and settlement surrender on loan values.
- Interview clients and take their calls to provide customer service and obtain information on claims.
- Obtain computer printout of policy cancellations, or retrieve cancellation cards from file.
- Compose business correspondence for supervisors, managers, and professionals.
- Notify insurance agent and accounting department of policy cancellation.
- Apply insurance rating systems.