While you won't usually need a particular degree or certificate to become a health insurance advocate, you will likely need a good deal of knowledge of the health insurance and health care industries. You can gain this knowledge through reading on your own as well as by taking courses in related subjects. Having discussions with experienced health insurance advocates and attending workshops meant for advocates might help as well. Though it's not mandatory, having a background in health care, insurance, or social work may also prove helpful.
To become a health insurance advocate, you will typically have to spend a good deal of time learning about the issues people face when it comes to health insurance and figuring out how you can help them. You can do this by reading about health insurance advocacy in books and online. You may even find it helpful to speak with current health insurance advocates about your goal. Experienced advocates often can point you in the right direction for finding information you can use to learn more about this type of advocacy.
You will also have to know a good deal about health insurance to become a health insurance advocate. You can learn by reading about health insurance, but you may also benefit from taking insurance-related classes. In fact, you can gain a good perspective of the insurance industry if you complete an insurance training program intended for people who want to become insurance agents. This type of course isn't required but can prove helpful.
When you want to become a health insurance advocate, you might also benefit from attending workshops and seminars intended for people who work in health care or insurance advocacy. You can learn a good deal about the health care industry through such workshops and seminars. You may even have an opportunity to participate in discussions during and after such workshops that will help you gain knowledge important to your work as an advocate.
In addition to learning about the health insurance industry, you may also do well to learn as much as you can about health care. For example, you might learn about common ailments and injuries as well as the usual treatments for them. You can also prepare for this work by learning which types of treatments insurance companies usually pay for and the average costs of common treatments and procedures. Learning medical terminology and billing practices may prove helpful as well.
Some people become health insurance advocates after gaining significant experience in a health care, insurance, or related field. For example, you may choose to become a health insurance advocate after years as a nurse or insurance agent. You might even opt for this type of work after becoming a social worker.
