Patient Advocate Specialist (Hybrid, Bilingual Spanish) - New York Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Location: Hybrid, with on-site work as needed at New York Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA

Salary: From USD 65,000 yearly, plus an incentive bonus tied to enrollment performance.

Company

hirify.global helps Medicaid-eligible and medically underserved patients secure employer-sponsored health coverage through its Premium Assistance Enrollment service.

What you will do

• Identify and approach eligible patients and families through hospital referrals and daily census reviews.
• Explain the Health Insurance Premium Payment program clearly and compassionately, adapting communication to each patient's situation.
• Collect application information, authorizations, employer and plan details, premium costs, and dependent information.
• Own patient cases from first contact through enrollment, resolving missing documentation, eligibility questions, and employer follow-up issues.
• Coordinate with State Operations and Benefit & Advocacy teams and maintain ongoing eligibility and benefit coordination.
• Represent PFA within the hospital and build relationships with case managers, social workers, financial counselors, and community partners.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Full bilingual proficiency in Spanish is required.
• At least 2 years of patient-facing or customer-facing experience with activity or outcome-based metrics.
• Ability to work independently in a hospital setting with limited daily supervision.
• Working proficiency with a CRM or case management system, plus iPad and iPhone.
• Ability to complete hospital credentialing, including required vaccinations and drug/alcohol screening.

Nice to have

• 3–5 years of patient-facing experience in a hospital or health system.
• Knowledge of Medicaid, Medicare, employer-sponsored coverage, and coordination of benefits.
• HIPP, premium assistance, eligibility, enrollment, patient access, financial counseling, or health plan member services experience.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, or a related field.
• Training in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, medical billing and coding, or experience interpreting EOBs and medical bills.

Culture & Benefits

• Mission-driven work focused on helping medically underserved patients access coverage and care.
• Empathy, teamwork, respect, and work/life balance are emphasized.
• Employer-subsidized medical coverage with supplemental cost-offset support.
• Dental and vision coverage, company-paid life and disability insurance from day one, and flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) retirement plan with up to a $2,000 annual match, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness benefit.
• Performance is reviewed through weekly and monthly activity, enrollment, conversion, accuracy, and renewal targets.

Hiring process

• The incentive plan and performance targets are explained during the interview process before an offer is accepted.