Benefits Specialist (Application Counselor)-Hagerstown MD

About HealthCare Access Maryland (HCAM)

HealthCare Access Maryland (HCAM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Maryland healthier by connecting residents to health insurance coverage and providing comprehensive care coordination. Each year, HCAM assists over 80,000 individuals across the state, offering personalized guidance, health education, and advocacy to ensure every Marylander has an equal opportunity to achieve optimal health. healthcareaccessmaryland.org

Job Summary

The Benefits Specialist (Certified Application Counselor) supports incarcerated individuals by providing in-person application and enrollment assistance through the Maryland Health Connection.

This role is responsible for helping individuals understand their health coverage options, complete eligibility applications, and enroll in private or public health insurance programs such as Medicaid, MCHP, and Qualified Health Plans.

The Benefits Specialist provides unbiased, accurate information to support informed consumer decision-making and ensures compliance with state and federal requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of this position are:

Administration

• Maintain certification as a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange.
• Participate in trainings, meetings, and required continuing education.
• Follow all HCAM and MHBE policies, protocols, and compliance requirements.

Documentation

• Document all outreach, enrollment, and case follow-up activities accurately in designated systems such as Salesforce or HBX.
• Track case status, application progress, and enrollment outcomes.
• Maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, MARS-E, and agency protocols.

Outreach & Enrollment

• Provide consumers with information about health and dental insurance options, including Qualified Health Plans (QHPs), Medicaid, MCHP, and Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC).
• Assist consumers with submitting eligibility applications through the Maryland Health Connection.
• Facilitate plan comparison, selection, and enrollment.
• Offer consumers access to approved materials on all Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), including report cards, benefits, and provider networks.
• Participate in in-person outreach and enrollment events as assigned.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of program changes, eligibility guidelines, and enrollment timelines.
• Meet productivity, quality, and compliance expectations.
• Collaborate with colleagues and community partners to support consumers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education, Experience, Certifications and Licensures

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a health, human services, or related field preferred.
• One year of experience in customer service, outreach, or eligibility application assistance required.
• Must obtain Certified Application Counselor (CAC) certification within 45 days of hire and maintain certification throughout employment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of public and private health coverage options and enrollment systems.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to use online portals and data systems.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of diverse populations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.

Compensation

In compliance with Maryland's wage transparency requirements, the compensation for this role has been included in the posting. Additionally, the benefits package includes vacation, sick, personal, and mental health leave, a 401k retirement plan with employer match, medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance, company-paid life insurance, voluntary life insurance options, Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options, and a voluntary emergency savings fund with employer match.

EEO Statement

HealthCare Access Maryland provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected classification.

Equal employment opportunity includes, but is not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves of absence, and termination. HealthCare Access Maryland takes allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation seriously and will promptly investigate when such behavior is reported.

Safety & Health Responsibilities

HCAM is committed to providing and maintaining a safe, secure and healthy work environment for all employees, clients served, volunteers and visitors. As part of this commitment, HCAM has developed safety, security and occupational health policies, practices, and standards.

With this understanding, all employees are required to: Adhere to all local, state and federal safety and environmental codes, ordinances, standards and laws; adhere to all HCAM and local safety plans, policies, practices and standards; be aware of and follow all safety rules of your work site; report any unsafe conditions or accidents to your supervisor; practice standard precautions (formerly universal precautions) at all times, and; participate in mandatory or available safety training.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and respond to customers and employees. The employee frequently is required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee is occasionally required to walk and sit. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.