Our Employee Benefits Unit (Hauppauge) is currently seeking a Senior Employee Benefits Representative to join our team.
An employee in this class performs the more difficult specialized work of maintaining comprehensive employee and retiree health insurance benefits in the Employee Benefits Unit (EBU) of the Suffolk County Department of Civil Service/Human Resources. Incumbents in this position perform the more complex evaluations, calculations, eligibility determinations and problem solving tasks and are expected to work at a higher level of independence than employees in the Employee Benefits Representative class. Incumbents in this class train lower-level staff and guide them in proper procedures and in problem solving. Incumbents advise and provide information to members, dependents, third-party administrators and HMOs on issues, procedures and requirements of the various health benefit plans in accordance with the Employee Medical Health Plan (EMHP) Benefit Booklet and various federal legislation such as, COBRA, HIPAA and the PPACA (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) and others. Work requires initiative and judgment and is performed under general, technical or administrative supervision. Does related work as required.
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ROLE:
Trains and guides Employee Benefits Representatives regarding EBU procedures and programs;
Reviews eligibility documents and bi-weekly payroll runs for enrollment, termination and status change information and updates records in the Employee Benefits System (EBS) accordingly;
Explains regulations and procedures of various health benefit plans to members, retirees and other interested parties;
Counsels members regarding benefits options to which they are entitled;
Responds to members’ inquires and resolves a wide variety of their issues and problems;
Calculates billing, follows-up on collection and records receipts for members paying monthly premiums through COBRA,
HMOs, benefit funds, unions and outside agencies;
Reviews, approves and processes Waivers of Premiums and Statement of Disability requests;
Recoups overpayments of Medicare Part B premiums and claims incurred by ineligible members;
Processes and distributes material to custodial parents and tracks information ensuring compliance with court ordered Qualified Medical Child Support Orders according to court deadlines;
Using EBS, prepares financial reports and various regulatory reports including compliance related reporting in accordance with HIPAA rules and regulations;
May assist in making benefits presentations at new employee orientation sessions.
Salary: $39,333
- This position does not offer relocation assistance at this time
**Sponsorship is not available for this role
OPEN COMPETITIVE
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from a standard senior high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma recognized by the New York State Education Department and four (4) years of experience in employee benefits administration including health insurance reporting and record keeping utilizing a computerized employee benefits information system.
NOTE: Additional education from a college with federally-authorized accreditation or registration by NY State may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the above experience.
PROMOTIONAL
Two (2) years of permanent competitive status as an Employee Benefits Representative.
ADDITIONAL POSITION DETAILS:
Good knowledge of Suffolk County's various employee health insurance plans including the County's Employee Medical Health Plan (EMHP) and HMO plans
Ability to coordinate benefits between these plans and Medicare
Good knowledge of methods used in preparing fiscal and statistical reports
Good working knowledge of the County's Employee Benefits System
General knowledge of government regulations and laws governing health insurance plans including HIPAA, FMLA, PPACA, COBRA, etc.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County personnel, retirees, third party administrators, vendors and contract agencies
Ability to effectively communicate health insurance plan information
Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in providing guidance to unit staff and in making eligibility determinations
Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely orally and in writing
Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
BENEFITS:
- Full Medical for member and qualifying dependents through Suffolk County Employee Medical Health Plan: Employee contribution: 2.4% of base salary (or a minimum of $1,500 per year)
- Tuition reimbursement available for work (approval based) related continued education.
- Flexible Spending Account (employee contribution) is available for Dependent Care $5,000 Maximum and Health Expenses $2,850 Maximum
- 13 Calendar year holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
- Vacation Time: During the first year, employees are entitled to 10 Vacation days, earned at the rate of 2.75 per pay period totaling 10 days annually. Employees continue to earn vacation days in accordance with the schedule, reaching a maximum of 30 days per year. Unused vacation time rolls over each year until a maximum of 420 hours.
- Sick Time: Earned at the rate of 1/2 day per pay period totaling 13 days annually. Unused sick time rolls over each year, with no maximum rollover.
- Personal Leave: An employee granted 4 days of personnel leave each year. Employees receive 7.5 hours on their 1st day and will accrue one additional day every quarter. After employee first anniversary, 28 hours of personal days will be frontloaded at the beginning of each year worked. Unused personal time rolls over into sick each year with no maximum rollover.
- Salary: Step increase every 12 months on July 1 completed year of service in addition to contractual raises through 2024.
- Membership in the New York State Retirement Pension System 5 year vested. In order to retire with Health benefits you need to work 10 continuous years with the county and be 55.
Suffolk County Municipal Employees Benefit Fund.
- Short Term and Long Term Disability
- Dental and optical coverage
- Annual Prescription, hearing aid and specialist co-pay reimbursement
- All Members receive $70,000 of guaranteed life insurance at no cost.
- Financial and Retirement planning assistance
- Tax preparation reimbursement
- Legal assistance benefits
- Bereavement and survivor death benefits
- Identity & Fraud Protection
This Role Is A Provisional Appointment
A provisional appointment, which occurs only in the competitive class, is a temporary appointment to a position for which no eligible list exists or for which an eligible list exists with fewer than three candidates who are willing to accept the position. In order to become permanent, the employee who is provisionally appointed must take the next examination for the position in question. The appointment to the position is then made from among the three highest scoring passing candidates who indicate their willingness to accept the position. Civil Service law does not compel the appointing authority to choose the provisional employee should he or she be one of the three candidates
Additional details regarding a Provisional Appointment can be reviewed at:
https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Civil-Service/faqs
Suffolk County’s Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Equity:
-
Our focus is to promote, support, and implement the County-wide diversity and inclusion strategic plan.
-
We achieve results in all our responsibilities through the use of diversity and inclusion best practices.
-
We maintain a familiarity with Diversity & Inclusion trends and best practices.
Suffolk County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability that can be reasonably accommodated without undue hardship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, citizenship, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.