TERM Government Assistance Eligibility Specialist I, Grade 17

TERM Government Assistance Eligibility Specialist I

This is a term position that plays a critical role in supporting the mission of the Office of Eligibility and Support Services (OESS) and the Connector Entity program by ensuring that individuals and families have access to accurate, timely, and comprehensive assistance with health insurance eligibility and enrollment. This role directly contributes to reducing the uninsured rate in Montgomery County and strengthening access to essential health coverage.

Core responsibilities of this position will include, but are not be limited to:

• Providing direct assistance to consumers in determining eligibility and completing applications for MAGI Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), Qualified Health Plans (QHP), and Stand-Alone Dental Plans (SADP) through the Maryland Health Connection (MHC).
• Supporting individuals and families throughout the enrollment life cycle, including initial application, documentation submission, plan selection, renewals, post-enrollment issues, and disenrollment.
• Conducting outreach and public education activities to increase awareness of health coverage options and ensure equitable access for diverse communities across Montgomery County.
• Facilitating informed plan selection by assessing consumer needs, explaining premium and cost-sharing requirements, and discussing potential tax implications associated with Marketplace plans.
• Troubleshooting system-related issues and providing guidance to consumers experiencing challenges with the MHC online system following established Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) escalation procedures.
• Making appropriate referrals to agencies such as the Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU), the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA), or other community resources for grievances, complaints, or additional social services’ needs.
• Maintaining certification as a Health Insurance Navigator, completing all required MHBE annual training and continuing education to ensure expertise in ACA-related programs and state policies.
• Ensuring accurate documentation and adherence to program standards, including confidentiality requirements, privacy security protocols, and all CE and OESS operating procedures.
• Assisting with operational tasks and special assignments that support program goals, outreach strategies, quality assurance efforts, and overall service delivery across CE locations and community sites.
• Performing other job-related duties as assigned.

Evening and Weekend Hours:

This position requires the ability to work some evening and weekend hours.

Working Offsite Locations:

This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree.

Experience: None

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

• Experience assisting consumers with eligibility, enrollment, or renewals for Medicaid MCHP, or Qualified Health Plans (QHP) through the Maryland Health Connection or another health insurance marketplace
• Professional experience providing customer service or case management support to diverse populations in a human services or health coverage setting.
• Experience troubleshooting system issues or resolving consumer inquiries related to online eligibility and enrollment platforms.
• Multilingual proficiency and the ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

“Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $61,604 to $67,812, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.”

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for delivery of the County’s public health and human services that meets the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department.

As a department, we believe the health and wellness of the county can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

The Office of Eligibility and Support Services (OESS) is currently recruiting for an enthusiastic professional to serve as a TERM Government Assistance Eligibility Specialist I as part of the Connector Entity program. We are seeking an individual who is enthusiastic about public service, knowledgeable in health insurance affordability programs, and motivated to help diverse communities navigate Maryland’s health insurance affordability programs, and motivated to help diverse communities navigate Maryland’s health coverage options through Maryland Health Connection.