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How Can Insurance Verification Specialists Help Healthcare Providers Operate Efficiently

Claim denials can be complex and frustrating. They are the most prevalent barriers to effective revenue cycle management. In addition to taking extra time and resources to process the claim, it slows down the cash flow. Poor insurance claims experiences may also lead to a $170 billion threat to global insurance premiums by 2027.

While Insurance Eligibility Verification is a vital process, it is also considered a tedious task. Therefore, it is ideal to hire an insurance verification specialist. 

Insurance Claims and Underwriting

Next in Insurance: Top Insurance Industry Trends in 2023

Massive hurdles over the past few years have compelled insurance carriers as a whole to become more adaptable, and technology-focused. Insurance companies must continue to discover ways to innovate cost-effectively, given the impending global recession and ongoing geopolitical unpredictability.

The Adoption of AI

Insurance claims

Artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting one of the most significant changes in the insurance industry as a technology driver. The insurance sector will experience a substantial shift from "pay for damage" to "prevent damage" as biosensors, intelligent gadgets, and deep-learning algorithms are integrated into products.

The proliferation of IoT and AI in the general population will render the current method of processing claims outdated and pave the way for automated claim processing. Therefore, businesses must develop plans and stay current on industry trends in the insurance sector.

Digital Convenience

91% of today's insurance customers are willing to use online buying platforms and demand digital convenience from their insurance companies.

As a result, carriers and agencies should focus on enhancing how digitally friendly the customer purchasing process is. One strategy is to improve the application and intake experience across numerous scenarios and channels. 

Consumers are embracing insurance technology trends as they become more tech-savvy to make purchases, manage policies, make payments, file claims, etc. Giving customers more power and control would enhance their experience. However, businesses would also gain from this change by reducing the cost of customer acquisition, increasing insurance agent productivity, increasing customer retention, speeding up claims processing, and securing brand value and position. 

Streamlining Mobile Applications

Presenting tailored premiums is quicker with mobile apps' improved access to consumer location and essential data. Carriers that adopt mobile apps for policyholder acquisition, maintenance, and retention become long-term, crucial partners by raising the value they provide to customers. 

Today insurance companies should focus on robust features, an appealing user interface, and highly customized experiences. Prospective customers want recommendations automatically filled in and quick access to human connection. So businesses need to integrate telemetry tools and provide simplified claims processing to encourage policyholder engagement.

Focusing on ESG

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts continue to be a strategic and compliance focus for insurers, giving both a considerable challenge and a chance to have a positive influence. 

According to Capgemini's study, 85% of global insurers anticipate that ESG will have an impact on every aspect of their operations, with investments leading the way (91%), closely followed by risk and internal audit (90%) and underwriting (88%).

For insurers, implementing strategic ESG practices has several benefits, such as enhanced reputation, potential loss reduction, and contribution to a more eco-friendly environment.

Embracing Blockchain Technology

Cyberattacks on multinational corporations significantly rose during the pandemic by 81%. For tech-savvy scammers, it is simple to target the insurance industry. To this end, blockchain technology can help in fraud detection and risk reduction. Operations will be secure and efficient, resulting in openness between insurers and reinsurers, with smart contracts for insurance policies and the encryption of medical records.

Businesses of any size should incorporate Blockchain into their core business processes and stay up with technology improvements in the insurance industry. They should get familiar with the deployment of blockchain technology as it affects the insurance sector.

What Does an Insurance Verification Specialist do?

Also Read: Prepare for Emerging Challenges in 2023 (and beyond) with a Virtual Insurance Assistant

An insurance verification expert confirms a patient's insurance details and their eligibility to get medical care. They look at the patient's insurance papers to determine their coverage and limitations before escalating any problems to the supervisor for quick resolution. 

Insurance Verification specialist Responsibilities

An insurance verification specialist job may require post-secondary training with a high school degree. Certification may be advantageous even though it's not required. They must have prior experience in customer service or a related field.

Why Is Insurance Eligibility Verification Important?

Medical practitioners can estimate the patient's financial liability by verifying insurance coverage before the required surgeries. Verifying insurance coverage ensures payment for the services provided by medical providers. 

Insurance eligibility verification enables healthcare professionals to assist their patients in gathering all the information they require in advance. In the same way, confirming insurance eligibility beforehand safeguards healthcare professionals from circumstances in which insurance has expired. 

Insurance Verification Checklist:

Insurance eligibility verification will need to validate many specifics, including:

  • Patient’s name
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Social Security number
  • Insurance carrier’s name
  • ID number
  • Type of plan
  • Coverage details
  • Policy status
  • Effective date
  • Payable benefits
  • Plan exclusions
  • Co-insurance, co-pays & deductibles
  • Pre-authorizations & referrals
  • Health insurance caps
  • Type of Medicare coverage
  • DME coverage
  • And more

What Does the Insurance Eligibility Verification Process Look Like?

All insurance eligibility verification solutions adhere to a set procedure to ensure that insurance coverage is in place. The following steps make up the process:

Insurance Verification Checklist

When verifying insurance, ask the correct questions. Staff at the front desk should input data obtained from the insurance card, phone calls with the insurance provider, or computerized eligibility systems. Each patient's electronic medical record should have the following information to verify insurance eligibility:

Collect a Copy of the Patient's Insurance Card

Gather data for the insurance eligibility verification by requesting a copy of the patient's most recent insurance information. If the insurance information was input incorrectly, your electronic health record has an updated photo of the insurance card on both sides. Before submitting claims, medical billers should verify that ID numbers match cards.

Contact the Insurance Provider

Contact the insurance company directly to verify eligibility. Call the provider hotline or use your connected EMR and billing system to ping significant payers like Medicaid, Medicare, or Blue Cross for eligibility details. 

Insurance Assistant

Record Information

Be extra careful while putting patient information into the patient record. Because the data serves as the foundation for the medical claim, a single missed figure can mean the difference between a clean claim and a denial. Rushing through insurance verification processes and entering incorrect data may cause payment delays of several days or weeks or even a complete claim denial.

Follow Up

Follow up with the patient regarding insurance details if there are any queries or worries. Use a patient portal for email or online contact to tell patients of eligibility, or office personnel can also call the patient to inform them of copays or other concerns. 

Update Billing Software

Update the details on insurance coverage, pre-authorizations, and particular patient information to issue medical invoices.

5 Key Reasons to Hire Virtual Insurance Verification Specialist

There has been a noticeable increase in the insurance verification process in recent years. It is essentially a result of the elevated priority given to streamlining administrative procedures, enhancing cash flow, and lowering claim denial rates. 

Insurance Eligibility Verification
Source: Benzinga

The above market research analysis for 2023 to 2030 depicts the present situation and potential growth of the "Insurance Eligibility Verification Market".

According to projections, the worldwide Insurance Eligibility Verification market will surpass $1 billion by 2030, growing at an astonishing CAGR between 2023 and 2030.

Insurance verification is necessary to guarantee that the services rendered are paid. Inaccurate insurance eligibility verification may result in claim denials, holdups in reimbursement, and delays in the patient's visit. Here are the top five reasons to hire virtual insurance verification specialists:

Streamlining the Verification Process to Save Time and Effort:

Outsourcing Insurance Eligibility Verification to a skilled team with a streamlined workflow to handle every verification, from calling the insurance company to documenting the most recent revisions to the insurance policies, can speed up the processing of your claims. It will cut down on unnecessary delays.

Reduce Claims Denials and Waiting Time:

An outsourcing company is adept at submitting more accurate claims. They are specialists at identifying false information, which reduces the need for claims rework. A skilled virtual insurance verification specialist keeps up with changes to regulatory policies, figures out previous authorization requirements, files better claims, increases income flow and follows up with the insurance company regarding authorization issues. 

Enhance Patient Satisfaction and Reimbursement:

Virtual insurance verification specialists have access to updated insurance eligibility information. They can advise the patient whether or not they are eligible for insurance coverage. Furthermore, they increase the possibility that claims will be approved, handled quickly, and paid out on time.

Address Security Concerns

Hospitals save a vast amount of patient information on their portal. These details are open to hackers who might use them for financial gain. Keeping sensitive personal information in medical records secure is thus mandated by law and morality. For this, it's critical to address cybersecurity issues and stay current with technical advancements for data protection. You can get the best safety guidelines from a reliable virtual insurance verification specialist supplier with specialized tools.

Cost-Effective Solution:

An outsourcing firm offers the highest caliber insurance eligibility service at a reasonable rate. A medical billing company that outsources has the cutting-edge infrastructure and dependable staff to process your claims swiftly and correctly at a reasonable cost.

End Points

Insurance Specialist

Virtual insurance verification specialists offer a ton of benefits. For this, medical professionals need to hire skilled insurance verification specialists, which can be time-consuming and tiring. To this end, Office Beacon can help. Office Beacon is a pioneer in providing skilled insurance verification specialists to avoid the risks connected with denials, inaccurate insurance eligibility, and benefits. For 23 years, Office Beacon has provided perfect end-to-end medical claims processing services.

Prepare for Emerging Challenges in 2023 (and beyond) with a Virtual Insurance Assistant

Insurance companies are facing looming uncertainties. Mounting pressure from inflation, rising interest rates, and macroeconomic and geopolitical concerns dampen investors’ optimism. To this end, investors should concentrate on creating a lasting competitive edge. 

Often held up in daily responsibilities, insurancers find it hard to focus on the core business operations. With a virtual insurance assistant, insurance agencies can focus on growing their sales pipeline, generating leads, and more.

A virtual assistant can help insurance businesses with many back-office tasks, such as policy modifications, billing, and customer support, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks. This blog will discuss working with a virtual assistant and the services they can provide for insurance agencies.

What Is an Insurance Virtual Assistant?

A virtual insurance assistant works from a distance and handles different responsibilities for insurance companies. They take customer care calls, respond to general inquiries, research potential coverage options to recommend to customers, and more for the insurance industry.

Insurance businesses can utilize a virtual insurance assistant to maximize their productivity and performance. For example, if your insurance agents are stretched thin with incoming policy claims and queries, a virtual insurance specialist can come to the rescue and handle the situation.  

7 Key Tasks a Virtual Insurance Assistant Can Do for You

Virtual Insurance Tasks

For insurance companies, virtual insurance assistants carry out many activities. They frequently handle the following jobs:

Data Entry in AMS/CRM

Virtual Insurance Assistant

Insurance companies can hire virtual insurance assistants to do data entry or data “clean-up” inside the AMS or CRM. Virtual insurance assistants move data back and forth between different software programs and eliminate duplicate entries. Thus, these virtual insurance specialists ensure data is clean and up to date. They can override premiums and commissions inside the systems to ensure the reporting is correct. 

Administrative Tasks

Every insurance agency has to deal with administrative tasks such as transcription, file management, email management, and research. Insurance agencies can hire virtual insurance assistants to perform administrative tasks so they can focus on high-value business processes.

Also Read: Is a Remote Assistant Worth the Investment?

Insurance Assistance

A virtual assistant with phone skills can answer customer care calls and help customers with pressing issues. For instance, customers often inquire about what insurance policy they are eligible for and what kind of coverage might be best for them. A virtual insurance assistant conducts research, reviews policy information, and recommends options to clients. Similarly, a virtual insurance verification specialist can verify the claims faster and provide support to an insurance company.

Preparing Policy Information

Making bids and ensuring that the details of each client's policy are updated is part of any insurance agency's general practice. A virtual insurance assistant gathers policy information, modifies current rules, and provides bids for new clients because this requires a lot of administrative work.

Lead Generation, Nurturing & Management

A virtual insurance assistant can assist insurancers in effective lead management. They also ensure insurance businesses close more deals by converting prospects into customers.

Accounting & Bookkeeping

Insurance accounting services have emerged as a strategic approach for insurance companies. A virtual insurance assistant lessens the burden of staffing in-house bookkeepers and accounting professionals. They provide comprehensive services to insurance businesses that make it simple to comply with statutory requirements.

Website & App Development

Insurance businesses need advanced websites and applications that will reduce their insurance work and offer a seamless experience to their customers. A virtual insurance assistant offers top-notch web and mobile applications. They are well-versed in website and app development design to ensure all your insurance business requirements meet your business needs.

Benefits of Hiring Virtual Assistants for Insurance Agencies

Virtual Insurance Assistant Benefits

Employing a virtual insurance assistant might completely revolutionize the way insurance companies operate. Using virtual assistant services has several advantages, such as:

Improved Customer Service

In the competitive insurance industry, there is a need for insurance carriers to put the customer experience at the center of their business strategy. Insurers that offer superior customer service beat their peers. A virtual insurance assistant does research on your behalf for your support and sales teams. As a result, insurance businesses can save time by not undertaking policy research. 

Organized Leads

A virtual insurance assistant can aid insurance companies in managing their vast network of current, past, and potential clients. With a virtual assistant, insurance companies can keep their lead database in order and access it easily.

Focus on Insurance Activities That Drive Growth

An insurance business spends an average of 16 hours per week on administrative tasks and other work that doesn't require their expertise or authority. This substantial loss in productivity inhibits the expansion of crucial initiatives for the insurance industry.

Using a virtual insurance assistant allows business owners to focus on the efforts that promote growth.

By offloading all of the time-consuming and tedious administrative tasks, they free up a ton of time for insurance companies to improve their strategic projects and establish crucial contacts.

A Big Saving on Hiring and Employee Costs

While hiring a virtual assistant, there are no hiring or incentive costs, which can save your company thousands of dollars.

According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, it costs $4,129 on average to fill a job opening. It includes:

  • Time invested in preparing job listings 
  • Cost of posting jobs on employment boards 
  • Recruitment advertisements 
  • Examining applicants and conducting interviews takes time. 
  • Background check costs 
  • Costs of training
  • Employees benefits

Increased Business Efficiency

Businesses are attempting to cut expenses by broadly sustaining the economic gains made by virtual staff. Salesforce and Airbnb have significantly reduced office space rent. Insurance companies can use virtual insurance assistants to increase business efficiency by taking a cue from these successful businesses. 

A virtual insurance assistant swiftly and accurately analyzes large volumes of data. They provide precise market information and help insurance companies make decisions more quickly. They can also speed up insurance back office support and accurately take the role of manual processes in customer service activities like generating quotes or processing payments.

Increased Insurance Sales

Virtual insurance assistants aid companies in boosting sales by enhancing the general consumer experience when using their goods or website. They achieve this by providing customers with quick responses. It increases engagement and leads to higher conversion rates for insurance businesses.

How Much Does a Virtual Insurance Assistant Cost

Generally speaking, a virtual insurance assistant costs $8 to $16 per hour, depending on where you hire them. In contrast, employing in-house employees costs between $17.00 and $19.83. 

Insurance companies need to evaluate if they are hiring a trained virtual assistant or whether they need to do so. 

Employing a qualified virtual assistant can save insurance companies money and effort on training, saving them up to $1,800 a month. 

To this end, insurance companies can save money by working with a reputable outsourcing partner like Office Beacon to hire a virtual insurance assistant while successfully streamlining operations to drive growth.

Conclusion

It has become imperative for insurance companies to acquire virtual assistants due to the many advantages they offer. Are you looking for an efficient way to manage your customers and optimize business tasks? If you nodded yes, Office Beacon could be of assistance by providing trained virtual insurance agents.

Talk to our experts now to see if hiring a virtual insurance assistant is best for your agency.

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