Online Medical Billing Degree

Online Medical Billing Degree

As a Medical Billing expert, you'll generally do the billing and keep up with the insurance. Since most contract billing companies automatically get the job done with sophisticated billing equipment, you'll most likely work for a hospital or a doctor's office.


Of course you'll have to up on all the latest insurance information and have a clear understanding of medical terms and billing and coding conventions.

Some people choose to freelance with their Medical Billing Degree. This gives them the freedom to work temporarily in a variety of medical settings.

Degree Choices

Certificate, AA. For a Medical Billing degree, a Certificate or an Associate's degree is enough to get you into the job.

Certificates take anywhere from nine months to one year to complete. Associate's degrees in Medical Billing generally take two years and goes into more depth than simply teaching about medical billing and coding.

While there are no Bachelor's in Medical Billing, you certainly could get a four-year degree in Health Information Management or Health Care Administration. You could use that degree to apply for a job in medical billing.

A Bachelor's degree can come in handy as it can also qualify you for management positions as they become available.

In addition to the coursework in Medical Billing and Medical Insurance, this degree will most likely introduce you to Medical Ethics along with core Health Science courses.

Career and Salary Outlook

With a projected 34% growth rate over the next seven years in the health sector, job prospects for Medical Billing are incredible.

According to Salary.com, a Medical Billing expert can make anywhere from $40,000 to $45,000 per year. The top of the salary range seems to be determined by the place one works (hospital vs. private practice, for example), the amount of education you have acquired, and the amount of work experience.

You should be aware that because you will have access to confidential patient records, you will be bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) not to reveal private information. Additionally, you may want to consider joining the American Health Information Management Association so that you can keep up-to-date with your profession.