There are a number of possibilities for pursuing a job with an insurance company with a degree in public health. Public health graduates have opportunities to take a number of different courses, gaining the skills and experience needed to handle a number of tasks in all areas of health care and the health care system, including in insurance.
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Public Health Degree Overview
A degree in public health prepares graduates for working with the promotion of health and well-being for diverse populations in the United States and around the world. Public health professionals prepare and implement programs and policies to help protect people from disease and other public health risks. Within the degree program, public health students will complete a number of courses from various disciplines.
Many of the courses completed are in public health systems, and these courses often include public health administration and environmental health. Health education courses often include biostatistics in health care, community health assessment, health related behaviors, and evaluation of health promotion programs. Course work in health administration might include health care financial management, quality management in health care, and health communications. Additional information on public health education can be found at the American Public Health Association website.
The diverse set of skills and knowledge that students accumulate through the course of completing degree requirements provides a solid foundation for a number of different career possibilities. One possibility includes working with an insurance agency.
Insurance Company Positions
Insurance companies have a variety of positions, requiring professionals with various backgrounds in order to effectively manage operations. In a health insurance company, business operations include managing policies to offset expenses with long-term health care or medical care. Other insurance companies might specialize in life insurance, property insurance, or comprehensive coverage insurance.
Often, people immediately associate the insurance field and potential careers with an insurance sales agent. In addition to this position, insurance companies also employ auditors, claim adjusters, risk managers, corporate relations specialists, communications and media specialists, customer service representatives, and marketing professionals. Information technology, human resources, and finance professionals also play key roles in the business operations of an insurance firm.
Related Resource: Public Health Advisor
Using a Public Health Degree at an Insurance Company
Within an insurance firm, public health graduates often meet the qualifications for working with sales, risk management, claims, and media and marketing. In addition, including minor course work in business or information technology can help to prepare future professionals for additional opportunities with an insurance firm.
Overall, the scope of a degree in public health gives graduates the knowledge necessary to effectively manage individual case policies for an insurance company. With an understanding of everything from health risk to health assessment, an insurance agent with a specialization in public health can adequately determine appropriate coverage for both the client and the company.
Additionally, risk management is a skill that a public health graduate will gain while completing a degree. From understanding everything from health care program design to social determinants of health, public health graduates are prepared for various risk management responsibilities.
Public health is a growing field and increasingly important to communities around the world. After graduation, a future professional will be prepared for many opportunities for a job with an insurance company with a degree in public health.