Is being a medical coder a good career?

Yes, being a medical coder is a good career. The profession is projected to grow by 8.54% between 2020 and 2030. Some of the reasons this is a good career include;

• This career path will not require years of college. One of the top pros of being a medical biller and coder is that you can start your career in this field with the completion of a short accredited training program. It will take you anywhere from 7-24 months depending on the type of program you choose.

  This means that you can get out there and start making money within a short period after graduating high school or earning your GED. Other career paths in healthcare will require years of college after high school.

• You can complete your training online. One of the advantages of being a medical biller and coder is that you can complete your training online. The benefit of being able to learn online is that you can do your training any time of the day or night. You can do it when you have free time, before work, after work, etc.

  Online training will provide you with a great deal of flexibility. Learning online also makes it easier to stick with your training. If you learn in a classroom, you might start off interested, but boredom may set in after the first few weeks, and you will stop going.

  When learning online, nothing really changes; there is no need to drive somewhere, find parking, and sit in a classroom, which means that there's no need to lose interest.

• Cost of education is low. The training that you will be required to complete to become a medical biller and coder is relatively low compared to other careers. The cost to complete a program is anywhere from $1,000 to 3,000 dollars. That is nothing in comparison to different jobs.

  For example, it is much cheaper than becoming an electrician, which costs anywhere from $7,000 to $15,0000. This is good news for anyone who's interested in the medical billing and coding field!

• Growth opportunities. One of the pros of being a medical biller and coder is that there is plenty of room for advancement. After gaining experience in your field, you can work in practice management, medical auditing, compliance, clinical documentation improvement, education, and more.

  Some medical billers and coders move into being consultants. They may specialize in a particular type of billing, such as electronic transactions or cardiology billing. Some full-time consultants travel and work on multiple accounts, while others establish a base of loyal clients and stay in one place.

• Flexibility. One of the most significant advantages of being a medical biller and coder is that you can work from home. This is an excellent advantage for those who have children or pets that they do not want to leave at home during the day.

  It is also advantageous for those who live in an area where it snows, and you can not get out of your driveway to go to work. Working from home will also enable you to complete all the daily chores that need to be done and still have time for a salary job.

  As a medical biller and coder, you will also have the ability to work as an independent contractor. As an independent contractor, you will be able to work for any medical facility that needs your services. The type of facility you work for will be determined by the services that they need to have billed.

  The benefit of being an independent contractor is that you can dictate when you will work. There is no set schedule; this will allow you to take on as much work as possible.

  The typical workweek for a medical biller and coder is from Monday-Friday. However, in certain jobs, you can make your own hours for the week as long as you complete your assigned tasks. Now, if you work from home, then you will be able to work your schedule around whatever is going on in your life.

• Variety of workplace choices. As a medical biller and coder, you will have the opportunity to work in many different settings. Medical billers and coders can work for health insurance companies, hospitals, or medical practices.

  Rehab facilities, long-term care facilities, and even independent professional billing services are other great options for a medical coder. This is great because if a setting does not fit so well, you have many others to try until you get the best fit.

  One of the top pros of being a medical biller and coder is that you can essentially work anywhere. The entire country is in need of this line of work, so you would not need to relocate for your job unless you really wanted a change of scenery.

  You can easily find a job at a doctor's office, medical facility, hospital, or even with one of the many companies specializing in medical billing and coding.