Insurance Industry Needs Nurses

by Alex A. Kecskes

For nurses who don’t relish the idea of being on their feet all day, working nights and weekends, and dealing with the emotional stresses of dying patients, there is an alternative career--health insurance nursing.

As a health insurance nurse, you could be working at a desk—9 to 5 with nights and weekends off. You might even be able to work from home, which is especially appealing to single moms with toddlers.

There are a number of areas health insurance nurses are currently needed. These include disease management, utilization review, telephone triage, telephone advice line, education & training, and general patient management. You’ll typically need three to five years of clinical experience for these positions. In some cases, you’ll also need to be certified in case management.

You’ll help patients work with their individual care plans and assist them in managing their disease. You may also help the insurance company control costs by evaluating and coordinating care for patients with chronic diseases. This is often done over the telephone, but in some cases, you may actually have to visit the patient at home, in a nursing care facility, or even in the hospital. You’ll need a working knowledge of workers' compensation laws. And fluency in a common foreign language could be an asset.

Most health insurance nurses work full-time, but staffing agencies are also looking for part-time and temporary workers. The only downside is that many insurance nurses work all day in a cubicle.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

If you have any thoughts or suggestions about insurance industry nursing, feel free to share them in the comments section.