Insurance biller vs medical billing clerk

The differences between insurance billers and medical billing clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an insurance biller, becoming a medical billing clerk takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an insurance biller has an average salary of $35,822, which is higher than the $33,566 average annual salary of a medical billing clerk.

The top three skills for an insurance biller include patients, medical terminology and CPT. The most important skills for a medical billing clerk are patients, medical billing, and healthcare.

Insurance biller vs medical billing clerk overview

	Insurance Biller	Medical Billing Clerk
Yearly salary	$35,822	$33,566
Hourly rate	$17.22	$16.14
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	84,361	164,870
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 26%	Associate Degree, 30%
Average age	44	46
Years of experience	4	2

What does an insurance biller do?

An insurance biller is responsible for making daily reviews and processing documents concerning the insurance payment and bills of a client. They assess if all requirements are correct and complete, obtain different referrals and authorization papers, and prepare and transmit document claims using a particular software. Also, they do follow ups regarding unpaid claims and update spreadsheets for record purposes.

What does a medical billing clerk do?

A medical billing clerk is primarily in charge of processing payments and creating billing arrangements in clinics and hospitals. Among their responsibilities include gathering and verifying patient identification, handling insurance information, coding, updating databases, and maintaining records. It is also their responsibility to assist patients by filling out forms, answering their inquiries, and referring them to other services. Moreover, a medical billing clerk must monitor patient accounts and follow-up on delinquent patient accounts, coordinating with collection agencies as needed.

Insurance biller vs medical billing clerk salary

Insurance billers and medical billing clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Insurance Biller	Medical Billing Clerk
Average salary	$35,822	$33,566
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $44,000	Between $27,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	San Leandro, CA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	iCare
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between insurance biller and medical billing clerk education

There are a few differences between an insurance biller and a medical billing clerk in terms of educational background:

	Insurance Biller	Medical Billing Clerk
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 26%	Associate Degree, 30%
Most common major	Business	Health Care Administration
Most common college	-	Stanford University

Insurance biller vs medical billing clerk demographics

Here are the differences between insurance billers' and medical billing clerks' demographics:

	Insurance Biller	Medical Billing Clerk
Average age	44	46
Gender ratio	Male, 6.9% Female, 93.1%	Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 3.9% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	11%	7%

Differences between insurance biller and medical billing clerk duties and responsibilities

Insurance biller example responsibilities.

Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
Utilize ICD-9 and CPT codes, enter charges, and send statements for billing purposes.
Process monetary transactions, insurance payments and enter into bookkeeping ledgers and monthly statements to patients.
Submit medical claims for reimbursement on medical services provide to patients by medical provider for reimbursement.
Code and post hospital and office charges using ICD-9, CPT-4.
Look up ICD-9 codes to verify if a code has been change and enter.

Medical billing clerk example responsibilities.

Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Interact with patients as part of the quality assurance process (follow-up, EHR confirmation, billing confirmation).
Reconcile insurance and patient payments while researching and resolving incorrect payments, EOB rejections, and assort issues with outstanding accounts.
Utilize medical terminology and follow HIPAA guidelines.
Bill Magellan through Nextgen system.
Double checked CMS-1500 form before posting it out to the insurance companies.

Insurance biller vs medical billing clerk skills

Common insurance biller skills

Patients, 15%
Medical Terminology, 10%
CPT, 8%
Medi-Cal, 6%
Data Entry, 5%
Insurance Claims, 5%

Common medical billing clerk skills

Patients, 18%
Medical Billing, 10%
Healthcare, 7%
Data Entry, 7%
Customer Service, 6%
Medicaid, 5%

Insurance Biller vs. similar jobs

Insurance Biller related careers

Insurance Biller related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
Insurance Biller
Insurance Biller vs Medical Billing Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs