Many medicare consulting jobs will require an associate’s or even bachelor’s degree, so plan on pursuing post-secondary education. [1] X Research source
Enroll in a medical billing program, if available at your college. Medical training programs are often available at community colleges to help students understand healthcare terminology and process bills. Some medical billing jobs require coding as a prerequisite, although it is not required for all healthcare consultants. Consider taking coding classes at your college or learning basic programming on your own to add coding to your skillset.
If your college does not offer a healthcare administration degree, consider a degree in business or public health.
Regardless of their specialties, all medical insurance consultants need to have a strong theoretical and analytical understanding of the various healthcare systems. A master’s degree is not required but will qualify you for better positions.
While pursuing your undergraduate degree, consider working an entry-level job in a care facility. Firsthand experiences around Medicare patients will help you greatly as an insurance consultant.
Don’t just limit yourself to one internship. The more experience you have, the less stressful your job searches will be and the more desirable you will be to employers. [4] X Research source Ask an established healthcare consultant in your geographic area if you can intern with them, especially if they are a Medicare consultant. The best internships are those closely related to your ideal career, and many consultants would be grateful for the help.
As of date, two major healthcare consultant certifications are available. One is the Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC) offered by the National Society of Certified Healthcare Consultants (NSCHC). [5] X Research source You can also choose the ACHE Fellow (FACHE), given by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). [6] X Research source Both are respected among healthcare consultants.
As a consultant within the company, you will be able to specialize in a specific insurance down the road. Focus on gaining experience as an insurance consultant, then brand yourself as a specialist when you have the experience.
Take a Medicare-related course at least every one to two years. Courses are available online at the government-run CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) website. [9] X Research source
Remember to keep your Medicare understanding relevant. Information changes at a fairly fast rate, and you don’t want to misinform your clients.
Cold call potential clients to let them know about your services and how they could benefit from your specialization. Promote your services online or in local ads to increase your range of potential clients.
Building up a consulting business can take effort, so make sure you gain experience in a firm beforehand. [10] X Research source
