Benefits Specialist - Insurance (Only current CPSB Employees my apply) (3 Positions)

Caddo Parish Schools Job Description

Job Title: Benefits Specialist - Insurance

Grade: G

Department: Finance

Prepared By: Lynn Hooper

Prepared Date: April 10, 2026

Approved By: Emily Stanford

Approved Date: April 27, 2026

SUMMARY

The Benefits Specialist administers and supports a comprehensive range of employee and retiree benefit programs, including health, life, disability, dental, vision, and voluntary insurance plans. This role provides enrollment support, claims assistance, benefits education, and coordination with insurance carriers to ensure accurate and timely service for active employees, retirees, and beneficiaries.

The position serves as a primary point of contact for employees, retirees, dependents, and external partners, assisting with coverage verification, enrollment processing, billing inquiries, and claims-related issues. Responsibilities include maintaining accurate benefit records, reconciling enrollment data with payroll deductions and carrier billing, and ensuring proper premium collection and payment processing.

This role also supports employees transitioning into retirement, including guidance on Medicare coordination and retiree benefit options. The specialist ensures compliance with applicable federal and state regulations while delivering high-quality customer service and maintaining the integrity of benefits data and financial records.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Administer employee and retiree benefit programs including health, life, disability, dental, vision, and voluntary insurance. Process enrollments, changes, and terminations in accordance with plan provisions and eligibility requirements.

EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE SUPPORT

Serve as a point of contact for employees, retirees, beneficiaries, and internal departments regarding benefit programs, including enrollment, coverage, billing, and claims-related inquiries.

CLAIMS ASSISTANCE AND ISSUE RESOLUTION

Provide guidance on claims procedures, required documentation, and coverage verification. Communicate with insurance carriers to resolve claims issues and clarify policy provisions.

BENEFITS EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

Provide clear and accurate information regarding benefit offerings, eligibility requirements, and plan features. Conduct new hire orientation sessions and assist employees transitioning to retirement with benefit education and enrollment.

RETIREMENT TRANSITION & MEDICARE COORDINATION

Support employees nearing retirement by explaining benefit options, enrollment timelines, and Medicare coordination. Assist retirees with Medicare eligibility, coordination of benefits, and Medicare Advantage plan enrollment.

HRIS AND BENEFITS SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

Maintain accurate enrollment and eligibility records in HRIS and benefits administration systems. Process demographic updates and ensure consistency between systems.

DATA RECONCILIATION AND AUDITING

Reconcile enrollment records with carrier enrollment files to ensure employees and retirees are properly enrolled and maintain uninterrupted access to coverage.

LIFE INSURANCE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION

Administer life insurance claims for active employees and retirees, including verifying coverage, coordinating documentation, and communicating with beneficiaries, insurance carriers, and funeral homes to ensure timely and accurate claim processing.

PREMIUM COLLECTION AND PAYMENT PROCESSING

Collect, monitor, and reconcile premium payments including payroll deductions, retirement system deductions, direct payments, and external billing services. Issue collection notices and process refunds when applicable.

CARRIER BILLING AND VOUCHER PROCESSING

Reconcile carrier invoices against enrollment records and premium payments collected through payroll deductions, multiple retirement systems, third-party billing services, and direct payments, including paper checks. Investigate and resolve discrepancies and prepare vouchers to ensure timely and accurate remittance of insurance premiums.

CARRIER AND VENDOR RELATIONS

Communicate with insurance carriers, retirement systems, and third-party vendors to resolve discrepancies, manage enrollments, and ensure accurate benefit administration.

SPECIALIZED RETIREE ADMINISTRATION

Support retiree-specific processes including survivor coverage, return-to-work retiree monitoring, and continuation of benefits.

PRIVACY AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Ensure all employee, retiree, and beneficiary benefit information, including personal identifying information, protected health information (PHI), enrollment and eligibility records, claims information, and financial data, is handled, stored, and transmitted in compliance with HIPAA and all applicable federal and state regulations.

OTHER DUTIES

Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or equivalent required. Minimum of four (4) years of experience in employee benefits administration or a closely related field. Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state regulations governing employee benefits, including but not limited to HIPAA, ERISA, and FMLA. Experience working with HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration systems to manage enrollments, maintain benefit records, and support benefits operations.

BENEFITS ADMINSTRATION EXPERTISE

Strong knowledge of employee and retiree benefit programs including health, life, dental, and vision insurance, with the ability to interpret plan provisions, eligibility requirements, and coverage rules.

MEDICARE & RETIREE BENEFITS KNOWLEDGE

Understanding of Medicare eligibility, coordination of benefits, and Medicare Advantage plans, including the ability to guide retirees through plan options and enrollment requirements.

ADVANCED MICROSOFT OFFICE SKILLS

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, with a strong emphasis on Excel for data analysis, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, complex formulas, and data auditing tools to analyze, reconcile, and validate large datasets, identify discrepancies, and support accurate reporting.

COMMUNICATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly explain complex benefit information to retirees, employees, carriers, and internal departments.

INTERPERSONAL & RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Ability to manage relationships across a large and diverse population while handling high-volume, sensitive interactions with professionalism, empathy, and effective issue resolution.

PROBLEM-SOLVING & CRITICAL THINKING

Ability to analyze complex benefit and billing issues, evaluate multiple variables, and determine appropriate solutions while maintaining compliance with policies and regulations.

ORGANIZATION & ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Strong organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail when managing sensitive data, financial transactions, and benefit records.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to handle or feel objects or controls. The employee must occasionally lift or move light weight.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be

made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Employee acknowledges that he/she is required to maintain a high standard of professional conduct. Breach of said professional conduct includes but is not limited to: neglect of duty, dishonesty, engagement in acts that are contrary to CPSB policy, unlawful activities, or any other conduct which is seriously prejudicial to the school system.

CHAIN OF SUPERVISION

Director of Insurance

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

260 days