How Do I Become a Reimbursement Manager?

A reimbursement manager is a professional who helps clients to receive payments, typically from insurance companies, for services provided. It is common, for example, to find reimbursement managers in the medical field, working for hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and individuals who seek money from insurance providers. To become a reimbursement manager, it is usually necessary to have an undergraduate degree. There is no one subject that reimbursement managers tend to study, though a concentration in a subject such as finance or accounting can be helpful. In order to become a reimbursement manager, it also can be a good idea to learn medical coding and terminology, since this knowledge is essential for dealing with health insurance companies and health providers.

While you are studying for your undergraduate degree, aspiring reimbursement managers can benefit from taking internships or part time jobs in the insurance industry. Even if a position you take is in a department such as customer service or claims processing, you might find that this experience helps you become a reimbursement manager. It can be a great way to become familiar with how insurance companies are organized, how they categorize information, and what kind of vocabulary they use.

To become a reimbursement manager, it is often important to have a number of years of experience communicating with insurance companies or performing financial work for a business in the health or medical industry. If you have training in a field such as finance or accounting, you might apply for back office jobs that enable you to perform calculations and organize financial documents. Individuals who are more comfortable in positions that rely on interpersonal skills may aim for department lead or management positions.

By the time you are ready to become a reimbursement manager, you should have experience in both the organizational and financial aspects of the insurance industry. If you find that you are lacking in one aspect, you might benefit from professional development courses. For example, if you feel that you have not yet demonstrated your managerial skills, you might want to take management classes or even earn a professional certificate.

As you look at different reimbursement manager job postings, develop your resume to fit the needs of each employer. It is a good idea to highlight relevant skills, experience, and training by listing them at the top of a resume. In some cases, you might need also to distribute cover letters, which briefly describe your experience and explain why you are the best match for a position.