14 Pros and Cons of Being a Medical Biller and Coder

As you consider a career in medical billing and coding, this job is ideal for certain personality types.

If you are introverted and enjoy working alone, you will be good at medical billing and coding.

Medical billers and coders get paid well but need to learn the ropes.

Here are nearly a dozen pros and cons of being a medical biller and coder as a job.

Pros of Being a Medical Biller and Coder

Work Remote

One of the main reasons medical billing and coding jobs are so popular is that they can be done by people working remotely.

You can work from home as a biller and coder quite quickly.

The doctor or client will send you files via the Internet on your computer.

You use this information to code insurance and other billing documents for patients.

In fact, by working remotely, you are not exposed to the same pathogens and diseases as medical professionals on the front lines.

This makes medical biller and coder an excellent career option for someone interested in the healthcare industry but, for whatever reason, unable to work with the public.

Set Your Hours

Along with working where you want, as a medical biller and coder, you can work when you want, for the most part.

After you receive the files for billing and coding, you have a set deadline to complete the assignment.

This allows you to work either in the morning or at night, whenever is easier for your schedule.

If you are a new parent with a young child at home, working as a medical biller and coder lets you stay close to your infant while still earning an income.

You can also work in between bottle feedings or when your child naps.

Medical billing and coding are great options for parents trying to support their families while still working as a parent at home.

No Dress Code

You do not have a set dress code since you work from home when you want to.

You are not required to wear uniforms, smocks, or scrubs to bill and code from home.

Whether you prefer to be cozy in your pajamas or dress however you feel comfortable working, you can do so for the most part.

There are exceptions to the rule, such as when taking a Zoom call to speak with a doctor.

Otherwise, you do not have to worry about looking a certain way when working as a medical biller and coder.

Self-Employment

Along with working where and when you want while wearing what you please, self-employment has other perks.

You get to be your boss and decide whether you work all day or night.

If you have personal health issues, a busy creative side job, or want more control over your workday, self-employment is an excellent route.

As someone in medical billing and coding, you can be self-employed and manage your business.

Easy Pathway to Entering the Job Market

To become a medical biller and coder (MBC), you do not have to go to college for four or even two years.

In fact, through the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC), you can become a trained and certified MBC in less than a year.

The training is 100 percent online and involves a few courses.

Not a Lot of Education

You do need to take a few courses to become a medical biller and coder.

These classes, offered by the AAPC, include Medical Terminology and Human Anatomy.

These college-level classes must be taken online and passed before you can train in medical billing and coding.

However, you do not have to attend college to take these courses.

Overall, the training to become a medical biller and coder takes less than one year if you dedicate your time and energy full-time.

Pay is Very Good

Salary.com says you can earn a good income as a medical biller and coder.

This profession pays US medical billers and coders more than $82,000 on average for an annual salary.

The average salary is based on a wide range from $37,260 to $128,229.

As you can see, there is a lot of variation here, but you also have a great potential to earn an upper-class income.

Cons of Being a Medical Biller and Coder

Isolation on the Job

When you work remotely, there is a lack of social interaction.

You do not get regular water cooler chats with others, face-to-face conversations, or group meetings.

While this is a benefit of remote work, for some individuals, the loneliness becomes too much.

Unfortunately, most medical biller and coder jobs are managed and completed remotely.

In most cases, you cannot work directly in a medical office with this job.

You can be hired by a hospital or insurance company if you want to work in a social office setting.

This opportunity can reduce the risk of isolation in the medical billing and coding job market.

Difficulties Finding Clients to Code for

If you struggle with being dominant and cold-calling potential customers, you will find it difficult to get clients to work for you as a medical biller and coder.

The option is to gain employment directly with a major insurer or hospital group.

Otherwise, you might struggle with prospects if you are trying to find doctors and medical clinics to do medical billing and coding.

Using a job board and third-party hiring service for managing clients and marketing yourself is a good way to find work as a medical biller and coder.

You can also go through associations like the AAPC and use their networking tools to meet and greet clients actively hiring.

Using Technology and Software for Coding

Are you someone who does not like technology or computers?

You might be in trouble with a medical billing and coding career.

The coding software used by your clients requires computers and the Internet.

You will also be required to email and text clients regarding work.

Technology is used to listen to and translate medical codes as well.

Medical billing and coding is one of the more tech-dependent jobs in the healthcare industry.

Must Know Medical Terminology

As a medical biller and coder, you must know medical terminology like the back of your hand.

Along with prefixes and suffixes, you need to know root words and Latin meanings for the many medical procedures patients require.

Medical terminology builds on root stems and ancient language, and a study or love of linguistics is helpful.

A single letter can be wrong, messing up the name of the prescription listed on an insurance document.

Therefore, you are expected to know all the names of the human body, pharmaceuticals, medical procedures, and equipment used in healthcare.

This is a lot of information to digest, and you may not be interested in keeping up with coding.

Study of Human Anatomy

As noted, you have to know all about the human anatomy.

To be eligible to sit for the AAPC certification board exam, you must have successfully passed a course in human anatomy.

Knowing all about the human body, including all organs, bones, and fluids, can be challenging.

You have to be ready to use this information as a medical biller and coder in the real world.

When you receive paperwork about a patient that needs to be entered into their medical records, you must be ready to read and interpret the physician’s handwriting and information.

Here is where you practically need the insight of a doctor.

Keeping Up With Changes in Coding

As medical codes change with new procedures, medication, and codes, you must keep up the pace.

Knowing where to go to learn about medical codes is only part of the process.

You also must be active in learning and practicing in this field.

If you take time off from medical billing and coding, returning to the job can be even more difficult because of code updates.

Staying ahead of the curve is also hard to do once you are busy working steadily.

Accuracy on the Job

Making a single mistake on someone’s medical history or insurance information can lead to all sorts of problems down the line.

In addition to being outright dangerous to a patient’s health, inaccurate data and record keeping will cost money and take time to correct.

Being perfect at your job is one thing, but if you are a medical biller and coder, you must have 100 percent accuracy.

This is very challenging for some personality types and for individuals who are not prepared for the job.