Short Term Disability Claim Specialist

Summary: MetLife is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance and employee benefits. They are seeking a Short Term Disability Claim Specialist who will be responsible for administering claims, establishing relationships with claimants, and supporting their return to work through various programs and methodologies. Responsibilities: - Claim owner and decision-maker - Responsible for administering claims within contractual provisions and internal /external guidelines - Establishes a relationship with claimants in order to understand their perspective on their disability - Using that perspective and other information, identifies the claimant’s functional capacity and leverages that capacity within the context of the contract to support and encourages return to work as appropriate - Applies all appropriate provisions of the disability contract to ensure that MetLife’s liability is understood and appropriately applied throughout the life of the claim - Encourage and support return to work through a variety of programs and methodologies - Proactively communicates with the claimant to set expectations, assess medical and non-medical barriers to return to work, and keep him or her fully aware of the status of the claim, including setting expectations with the claimant if other resources (Voc, etc.) will be contacting him/her - Partners with the claimant, specialty resources, and more experienced resources to ensure that each claim has a well-understood plan that is appropriate for the unique situation of each claimant, his or her functional capacity and the prognosis for an increase in that capacity - Executes individual claim action plans, serves as point of contact for the claimant, and makes claim decisions - Manages overall block of assigned claims, including prioritizing actions, appropriately utilizing resources, and timely and accurate decision - Provides a high-level of service to the claimant, including delivering on commitments, timely return of phone calls, and clear communication - Proactively updates partners that may be working with the claimant when key events are being considered or have occurred. (closure, RTW, etc.) Required Qualifications: - New hires should live a commutable distance from the site the role is posted in - 1-2 years of customer service experience in insurance claims (home, auto, life, etc.) - A comprehensive understanding of the disability contractual provisions, especially the definition of disability - Strong communication skills, including the ability to interview claimants dynamically with the goal of setting claimant expectations and obtaining information necessary to administer the claim - Basic knowledge of medical conditions, treatments, prognosis - Critical-thinking skills - Strategic-thinking skills and the ability to apply judgment and decision-making based on strategy - High School Diploma or GED Equivalent - This role has mandatory paid training starting on April 13th. Candidates must be available and present for all training days Preferred Qualifications: - 1-2 years of experience handling Absence Management Claims - Call center experience in an insurance setting - Prior experience with STD, LTD, FMLA, and/or ADA - Previous experience in claims management - Ability to give and receive feedback to/from partners - Prioritization skills. Ability to balance quantity and quality - College or University Degree Required Skills: Disability contractual provisions, Customer service experience, Claims management experience Important Skills: Communication skills, Critical-thinking skills, Strategic-thinking skills Nice-to-Have Skills: Basic medical knowledge, Prioritization skills, High School Diploma, College Degree, Call center experience, Absence Management Claims, STD, LTD, FMLA, ADA, Feedback skills Benefits: Comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, Dental insurance, No-cost short- and long-term disability, Company-paid life insurance, Legal services, Retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife, 401(k) with employer matching, Group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Digital mental health programs, Parental leave, Volunteer time off, Tuition assistance