Underwriter III - Consultant (Large Group)

LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon. Applying innovation and strategy to create leading-edge health coverage and benefit solutions that provide peace of mind for our members. Our unique value proposition is built on a strong local presence and national capabilities.

Under infrequent supervision, the incumbent contributes to the achievement of corporate goals and objectives by providing underwriting services to large group clients. These services include but are not limited to premium rate setting for new and renewing business, with a major emphasis on complex, high-maintenance accounts and/or associations. Ongoing supervisory and/or training of junior and senior level underwriters is required. The incumbent ensures that groups are retained as Premera Blue Cross clients on a profitable basis by performing the following duties and responsibilities.

Responsibilities:
1. Schedules, monitors, and controls all renewal activity for assigned book of business.
2. Gathers and examines appropriate documentation and data required to calculate and produce insured rate renewals and conditions of enrollment.
3. Gathers and examines appropriate documentation and data necessary to calculate and produce renewals for groups with ASO, minimum premium and other alternate funded arrangements.
4. Prepares underwriting analyses and renewal rates for all Premera Blue Cross and subsidiary stoploss products.
5. Leads extra-departmental projects/workgroups as directed by Underwriting management.
6. At the direction of Underwriting management, monitors and directs activities on assigned business segments.
7. Writes internal management summaries for case reviews and/or appeals.
8. Constructs renewal rate packages and reports financial findings to Sales Department.
9. Makes independent renewal and prospect decisions in accordance with established Underwriting Authority Limit guidelines as established by senior management.
10. Gathers and examines appropriate documentation necessary to develop premium insured rates, administration fees and conditions of enrollment for proposals.
11. Prepares underwriting analyses and proposal rates for all LifeWise and subsidiary stoploss products.
12. Selects risk for assigned group type/sizes which endorse an equitable balance between risk and rates for LifeWise and subsidiary business.
13. Provides integral support to Sales and Account Management teams in client presentations, negotiation, and sale of renewals and proposals.
14. Proactively works with external customers in a consultative fashion to identify, develop, and deliver value-added underwriting services.
15. Participates in special requests within the underwriting department and on cross-departmental teams as required to respond to customer issues, legislation, and/or product development.
16. Provides assistance and counsel to other underwriting staff and may develop and conduct general and specific training as required.
17. May perform the duties of Senior Large Group Underwriter as required.

Minimum Qualifications:
1. Five+ years group medical underwriting experience.
2. BA/BS degree from a four-year college in Business Administration, Mathematics, or related field.
3. In -depth knowledge of health care benefits and programs.
4. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
5. Ability to write business reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
6. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions in one-on-one environment or in smaller group situations with customers, Sales, underwriting management, and other employees within the organization.
7. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, compound interest, proportions and percentages.
8. Ability to apply basic concepts of business mathematics, statistics, and algebra to underwriting problems.
9. In-depth knowledge of mathematical applications used in underwriting function.
10. Ability to use PC and mainframe applications to run rating/pricing and data gathering programs.
11. Ability to create ad-hoc reports using spreadsheet and database applications, as well as third-party software applications as required.
12. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in oral, written, diagram or schedule form. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions in mostly standardized situations with several abstract and concrete variables.
13. Ability to work under pressure and to effectively manage time to accomplish many tasks concurrently.
14. Must be capable and willing to work independently and with others on activities governed by general organizational rules and procedures.
15. Ability to provide direction to and train others.

Additional Qualifications Preferred:
1. Four years experience as a senior group underwriter or health and welfare benefits consultant
2. Knowledge of actuarial derivation of general underwriting applications
3. CEBS, HIAA, CLU or FLMI designation