Medicare Counselor

Salary

$62,520.00 - $90,048.00 Annually

Location

Boulder County, CO

Job Type

Grant FT

Job Number

6290(PS2)

Department

Community Services

Division

CSD Area Agency on Aging

Opening Date

03/17/2025

Closing Date

3/30/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions
  
  

Description

Boulder County's Area Agency on Aging, a division of the Community Services department, is seeking to hire a Medicare Counselor. Medicare Counselors are a focal point in Boulder County for independent information and advocacy regarding Medicare and other health insurance plans so beneficiaries and their families receive the best health insurance coverage possible; we educate, empower, and advocate for Medicare beneficiaries. SHIP (State Health Insurance Program) counselors provide free, unbiased, up to date information and help to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers, so they can make informed healthcare decisions.

The Medicare Counseling Team is supportive and collaborative with clients and within the team.

Responsibilities include: consumer education, and counseling services for Medicare eligibles and their families and caregivers, program development, and coalition building.

This is a grant funded, full-time, benefited position that will work Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. This position will work out of St. Vrain Community Hub in Longmont, CO. Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, this position is exempt.

Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.

Hiring Salary Range: $62,520.00- $76,284.00

Tentative Hiring Timeline

• Phone Screen: Week of March 31st
• First Round Interviews: Week of April 7th
• Second Round Interviews: Week of April 14th
• Language Proficiency Test: Week of April 21st
• Reference Check: Week of April 21st
  
  

New employees receive an 80-hour bank (Download PDF reader) of vacation at the time of hire, in addition to 8 hours of both vacation and medical leave accruals each month(Must not have been employed at Boulder County during the 12 months prior to re-hire date to qualify).Boulder County offers bountiful benefits, including pension contributions.

Boulder County employees may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Visit studentaid.gov for more information.

Examples of Duties

• Education and counseling activities/responsibilities:
• Conduct regular educational seminars throughout the county, presenting both independently and with community partners; be informed and able to answer questions from the public about current and future Medicare policy
• Develop both technical training materials for professionals (community service providers) and consumer-friendly handouts for beneficiaries;
• Adapt education efforts to meet the needs of diverse groups and individuals, incorporating culturally relevant information into staff training and community presentations
• Advise consumers on appropriate coordination of benefits, including being knowledgeable about primary vs. secondary payor issues, and how Medicare coordinates benefits with employer plans, retiree plans, COBRA, military and Veterans benefits, Medicaid, Railroad Retirement Board, the Federal Black Lung Program, worker’s compensation claims, liability and no-fault claims
• Educate consumers on the multiple avenues for minimizing prescription drug costs, including Medicare Part D prescription coverage, Patient Assistance Programs, veterans and military retiree benefits, public and private insurance plans such as retirement plans, Medicaid and others
• Provide education to the public on Medicare fraud
• Conduct meetings with older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities to educate and assist with Medicare related issues.
• Advocacy activities:
• Advocate for the rights and needs of Medicare beneficiaries and their families in Boulder County
• Instruct beneficiaries on how to request expedited appeals for inappropriate discharges from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies
• Exercise autonomous judgment in advising Medicare beneficiaries about their rights; this includes knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), complaint and grievance procedures, insurance guaranteed issue laws, underwriting and pre-existing condition exclusions, privacy and confidentiality issues, discrimination issues and issues around Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABN)
• Articulate how Medicare policy impacts clients’ rights and benefits.
• Maintain current knowledge base:
• Have an understanding of Medigap supplement policies and Medicare Advantage Plans and Part D prescription drug plans; be capable of informing beneficiaries on what criteria to use in evaluating different policies.
• Provide assistance in navigating Medicaid with Medicare; resolve issues with eligibility qualifications and changes; process Low Income Subsidy applications and immediate medication needs.
• Maintain understanding of how Medicare coverage interacts with liability claim’s responsibility.
• Be a resource to and provide support to program volunteers.
• Performs related duties as required.
• May be reassigned in emergency situations.
  

Required Qualifications

PLEASE NOTE: When completing your application describe all relevant education and experience, as applications are assessed based on the required qualifications listed. Resumes and other attachments are not accepted in lieu of completed applications and will not be reviewed in the initial screening process. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your attachments will then be shared with the hiring team.

Education & Experience

Boulder County is looking for well qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of 6 years of combined education and experience in human service, advocacy, legal or mediation field. Additional related education may count towards required experience.

Background Check

• A job offer is contingent on passing a background investigation
  
  

Special Requirements

• Must be able to move and transport materials weighing up to 50 pounds to various locations for outreach and education.
• Must be able to read small print to gather medication information.
• Must obtain SHIP certification within 1 month of starting position (with assistance from program).
  
  

Supplemental Information

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Additional compensation will be provided based on the use of bilingual skills.
• Experience developing and presenting educational programs, working with elders/families to implement and coordinate a human service program
• Experience with medical insurance, managed care organizations, and Medicare
  

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Self-directed and ability to work independently and in teams
• Good problem-solving ability
• Ability to build coalitions with community groups to plan and implement programs and services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to work well with elders, people with disabilities, their families, agencies, and other employees.
• Ability to interact effectively with culturally diverse elders and their families.
• Proficiency with MS Office programs and internet research required.
  
  

Boulder County is a workplace dedicated to supporting individuals and families of all types and to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Benefits

As well as offering competitive pay and a caring work environment, Boulder County offers employees an array of benefits. For all FTE and Term employees, we provide:

Outstanding options of comprehensive health plans that include vision and dental coverage. Information can be found HERE.

Additional Benefits can be found HERE. (Download PDF reader)

• Including:
• Family-forming benefits- infertility treatment, adoption and surrogacy reimbursements
• 12 weeks Paid Caregiver leave
• Breast feeding friendly-work environment
• Sick child care, an infants-at-work policy
• Access to LifeMart discount hub, including discounts on childcare centers, event tickets, travel and more!
• Access to a nationally-recognized wellness program
• Employee Assistance Program
• PERA 401k
• Social Security retirement plans
• Additional Life and Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness and Accidental Insurance
• County-paid tuition assistance
• Eligible for PSLF- Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Free EcoPass
• Hospital Indemnity
• ID Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• 8 Hours of Paid Public Service Leave

Generous paid time off

• Holidays
• New Year's Day January 1
• Martin Luther King's Birthday January
• Presidents' Day February
• Memorial Day May
• Juneteenth June 19
• Independence Day July 4
• Labor Day September
• Indigenous People's Day
• General Election Day November (first Tuesday after the first Monday, even years)
• Veterans' Day November 11
• Thanksgiving Day November
• Friday after Thanksgiving*
• Christmas Eve- ½ day (full day off depends on day of the week)
• Christmas Day December 25
• New Year’s Eve- ½ day (full day off depends on day of the week)
• Vacation**
• 80-hour bank of vacation at the time of hire
• Eight hours of vacation per month for the first year of continuous service, then accrue twelve hours of vacation per month after the first year of continuous service.
• Medical**
• Eight hours of medical leave for each month employed.

PERA- The County and all employees pay into both Social Security and PERA

• Employer contribution to Social Security: 7.65% of salary
• Employer contribution to PERA (Local Government Division- most county employees: 14.76%
• The District Attorney’s Office observe Francis Xavier Cabrini Day on the first Monday in October and omit the Friday after Thanksgiving
• Vacation and Medical leave are based off of full time FTE accruals. Part-time FTE/term employees accrue leave based on the percentage of time they work.
  
  

01

Please share how you meet the minimum requirements of 6 years of combined education and experience in human service, advocacy, legal or mediation field.

02

Are you bilingual in Spanish and English?(Preferred)

• Yes
• No
  
  

03

Do you have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record?(Required)

• Yes
• No
  
  

04

When deciding how to organize your work, how do you assess what tasks need to be given priority?

05

How would you go about simplifying a complex issue in order to explain it to a client or colleague?

06

What steps do you take when there is an immediate decision to be made, but without having all the information?

07

What is an example of a racial inequity you have noticed within the Boulder County community?

08

Please share an example that demonstrates your respect for people and their differences; how have you worked to understand the perspectives of others?

09

Are you currently affiliated with any health insurance companies? If yes, would you be willing to sever that relationship?

Required Question

Employer Boulder County

Address 2025 14th Street

Boulder, Colorado, 80302

Phone 303-441-3525

Website http://www.bouldercounty.org