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Insurance verification specialist vs authorization specialist

The differences between insurance verification specialists and authorization specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an authorization specialist has an average salary of $36,518, which is higher than the $33,043 average annual salary of an insurance verification specialist.

The top three skills for an insurance verification specialist include patients, insurance verification and customer service. The most important skills for an authorization specialist are patients, customer service, and insurance verification.

Insurance verification specialist vs authorization specialist overview

Insurance Verification SpecialistAuthorization Specialist
Yearly salary$33,043$36,518
Hourly rate$15.89$17.56
Growth rate6%-4%
Number of jobs71,68871,831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 27%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age4640
Years of experience-4

What does an insurance verification specialist do?

An insurance verification specialist is responsible for confirming a patient's insurance details and eligibility to receive medical care services. Insurance verification specialists review the insurance documents of the patients, including its coverage and limitations, and escalate concerns to the supervisor for immediate resolution. They process paperwork accordingly upon coordinating with the patients and attending health professionals. An insurance verification specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, finishing administrative tasks efficiently under minimal supervision.

What does an authorization specialist do?

An authorization specialist is responsible for reviewing insurance claims and determining the necessary settlement for the clients and involved parties. Authorization specialists file documents and gather the required information for further investigation and analysis. They coordinate with the insurance agency and the medical institution and ensure that the correct communications are being sent out for reference. An authorization specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing authorization requests and resolve claims timely and efficiently.

Insurance verification specialist vs authorization specialist salary

Insurance verification specialists and authorization specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Insurance Verification SpecialistAuthorization Specialist
Average salary$33,043$36,518
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $37,000Between $28,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityMadison, WIMilford, MA
Highest paying stateNew HampshireMassachusetts
Best paying companySt. Luke's Cataract & Laser InstituteGuidehouse
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalHealth Care

Differences between insurance verification specialist and authorization specialist education

There are a few differences between an insurance verification specialist and an authorization specialist in terms of educational background:

Insurance Verification SpecialistAuthorization Specialist
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 27%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Insurance verification specialist vs authorization specialist demographics

Here are the differences between insurance verification specialists' and authorization specialists' demographics:

Insurance Verification SpecialistAuthorization Specialist
Average age4640
Gender ratioMale, 11.4% Female, 88.6%Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 4.9% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 6.9% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between insurance verification specialist and authorization specialist duties and responsibilities

Insurance verification specialist example responsibilities.

  • Check CPT and ICD-10 codes with LCD and policies from multiple insurance companies to make sure procedures will be paid.
  • Support the patient privacy/confidentiality policies and regulations under HIPAA for patients and their medical records.
  • Confirm correct charges base on HCPCS codes.
  • Assist callers as well with questions about their benefits, terms and conditions of medical plans, appeals and grievances.
  • Provide medical record support in the absence of EMR: assist clinics and hospitals in obtaining medical records in appropriate format.
  • Document outbound communication from providers and veterans.
  • Show more

Authorization specialist example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate knowledge of HIPAA by appropriately managing patient confidentiality.
  • Utilize CMS and InterQual criteria to establish authorizations for members requiring medical services for a Medicare advantage insurance company.
  • Build authorization, match ICD-10 codes with there procedure codes
  • Provide patients with patient registration forms in order to follow up on patient check-in and check-out utilizing a proprietary management system.
  • Obtain verification of insurance coverage and authorizations for clinical visits and surgical procedures for patients.
  • Perform all components of the office registration including arrival, check-in and future appointments.
  • Show more

Insurance verification specialist vs authorization specialist skills

Common insurance verification specialist skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Insurance Verification, 15%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Insurance Eligibility, 5%
  • Data Entry, 4%
  • Medical Terminology, 4%
Common authorization specialist skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Insurance Verification, 6%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Insurance Eligibility, 4%
  • Veterans, 4%