Claims Specialist Bilingual
Fort Smith, AR - USA
Job Summary
The Claims Specialist supports workers compensation and property casualty claims from start to finish gathering information documenting reported incidents and evaluating the severity of injuries. This role works closely with employees at remote sites across the country as well as insurance providers medical professionals and legal representatives to ensure claims are processed efficiently and in compliance with regulatory requirements. Because many of the employees we support are Spanish-speaking this position requires full bilingual fluency in English and Spanish (spoken and written). The Claims Specialist is often the first calm supportive voice an injured employee hears and plays a key role in guiding them through the recovery and claims process.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Dallas Texas PLA is a national supply chain solutions provider offering Pallet Management Services 3PL Services Reverse Logistics Services and Freight Brokerage & Transportation Management Services. Handling over 115 million pallets per year for over 1500 customers PLA is now one of the largest pallet manufacturing and recycling companies in the United States. With over 76 facilities and more than 3500 employees across 23 states PLA continues to grow both organically and through acquisition while staying true to its commitment to integrity innovation and operational excellence.
Day Shift:8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Monday thru Friday)
- Daily Pay Option Access your earnings before payday.
- PTO (Paid Time Off).
- Full Benefits: Medical Dental and Vision Insurance 3 medical plan options through Blue Cross Blue Shield with low weekly premiums starting at $28.75.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) Company contribution up to $750 annually with tax-advantaged savings.
- 401(k) retirement plan featuring up to a 4% employer match eligibility the first of the month after 90 days and access to a Financial Wellness Consultant.
- Flexible Benefits Multiple plan options to fit your needs and budget.
- Prescription Drug Coverage Low copays starting at $10 for generic medications.
- FREE Life Insurance & AD&D Basic coverage provided at no cost upon employment.
- Vision Benefits $10 eye exams and $150 frame allowance through Superior Vision by MetLife starting at $1.46 per week.
- Dental Coverage 100% preventive care coverage with MetLife plans starting at $5.76 per week.
- Voluntary Short-Term Disability (STD) Income replacement up to 60% of weekly covered earnings for a non-work-related injury or illness.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Free and confidential support for work stress grief legal/financial issues and more.
- Additional Voluntary Benefits MetLife Legal and Identity Theft Services and Pet Insurance with ASPCA.
- LifeMart employee discounts (through ADP) on everyday stuff and larger purchases.
- Dell Employee Purchase Program (EPP) discounts available for personal use.
- Collect and distribute injury and property damage documentation and respond to related information requests from corporate site management and insurance adjustors.
- Engage injured workers and their supervisors at the onset of an injury to investigate and secure all relevant facts in English or Spanish depending on the employees preferred language.
- Maintain lists of approved in-network medical providers for all remote sites.
- Support injured workers throughout the claims process and alert appropriate managers to potential challenges in the recovery process.
- Remain calm empathetic and supportive while assisting employees who are upset or in distress.
- Serve as the point of contact for invoice processing of claims by Accounts Payable.
- Conduct thorough investigations by contacting claimants reviewing medical records and gathering evidence to determine the validity and liability of a claim.
- Maintain clear and timely communication with claimants service providers and other relevant parties throughout the claims process.
- Prepare weekly and monthly reports on historical claims data and current trends.
- Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish (spoken and written) Required. You will regularly communicate with Spanish-speaking employees translate claims-related information and support injured workers in their preferred language.
- 2 years of experience in Administrative Support Customer Service Safety or Claims.
- Associates Degree (2-year college or technical school) preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook Excel Word).
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple open claims at once.
- Ability to handle confidential medical and personnel information with discretion.
- Empathetic You connect with people going through a difficult moment and treat every injured employee with patience and respect.
- Detail-Oriented You pay close attention to documentation deadlines and the small details that keep claims accurate and compliant.
- Clear Communicator You communicate effectively in both English and Spanish in writing and over the phone with employees providers and adjustors alike.
- Accountable You take ownership of your claims caseload and follow through on every commitment.
- Sound Judgment You formulate sound decisions using the information available and know when to escalate.
- Customer-Oriented You take care of employees needs while following company procedures and regulatory requirements.
- Reliable You show up consistently and your team knows they can count on you.
- Office environment with extended periods of sitting computer work and phone communication.
- Frequent phone and email contact with remote sites insurance carriers medical providers and legal representatives.
- May occasionally require flexibility to respond to incidents reported outside standard business hours.
PLA and its Family of Companies is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws.
If you need assistance or accommodation during the application process because of a disability it is available upon request by contacting . The company is pleased to provide such assistance and no applicant will be penalized because of such a request.
Required Experience:
IC