20 Healthfirst (New York) Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to a job interview, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, experience, and goals. However, some companies also like to ask questions that are specific to their organization.

If you’re interviewing with Healthfirst, a health insurer in New York, you may be asked about your thoughts on the Affordable Care Act, your experience with managed care plans, or your opinion on the role of insurance in society.

Answering these questions well can give you a leg up on the competition and help you land the job. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample Healthfirst interview questions and answers.

Healthfirst (New York) Interview Process

The interview process at Healthfirst (New York) can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone screen with a recruiter, followed by one or more in-person interviews. For some positions, you may also be required to complete a video interview or assessment. Overall, the interview process is generally smooth and efficient, with clear communication from the recruiters.

1. Why do you want to work for Healthfirst?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your interest in their company. When preparing for this interview, make sure you read through the job description and highlight any aspects that particularly interest you. Consider also mentioning how your skills and experience align with what they are looking for.

Example: “I am very interested in working for Healthfirst because of its reputation as an innovative health insurance provider. I have been following the company for some time now, and I think my background and skill set would be a great fit here. For example, I have extensive knowledge of medical billing software and can help implement new systems to improve efficiency.”

2. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with an angry customer, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict and stress. It’s important that you show the interviewer that you can remain calm under pressure, while also remaining empathetic to customers’ needs.

Example: “I once had a customer who was upset because they were having trouble accessing their account online. I listened to what they needed and then helped them access their account by phone. They were very grateful for my help and apologized for being rude earlier.”

3. What software have you worked with in the past and what were your responsibilities?

This question is a great way to see if you have the skills and experience necessary for this role. When answering, be sure to list any software that you’ve used in your past roles and what your responsibilities were with each program.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist at a small business, I worked with several different types of software including Microsoft Office Suite, Google Drive and Gmail, Salesforce CRM and Zoho Projects. My primary responsibility was maintaining all computer systems and ensuring they were running smoothly.”

4. If hired, how would you use your experience at Healthfirst?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and how you can use your skills, knowledge and experience to benefit Healthfirst. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your relevant skills and abilities that will help you succeed in the role.

Example: “I have a background in customer service and I’m passionate about helping others. In my previous role as a health insurance agent, I helped clients find affordable coverage plans that suited their needs. This experience has given me valuable insight into what customers look for when shopping for health insurance. If hired, I would use my experience to provide excellent customer service to Healthfirst’s clients.”

5. How would you describe your leadership style?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would interact with your team members and other employees. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you used your leadership skills to achieve positive results.

Example: “I believe that my leadership style is collaborative. I like to work with others to find solutions to problems or challenges. In my last position as a health insurance specialist, I worked on a project with two other specialists. We had to create an advertising campaign for Healthfirst’s new wellness program. The three of us met several times to discuss ideas and collaborate on our final product.”

6. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be prepared with an answer. When answering this question, you can highlight your strengths while also being honest about any weaknesses that you have.

Example: “I am very organized and detail-oriented, which helps me stay on top of my work. I’m always willing to take on new challenges and learn from them. One weakness I have is that sometimes I get so focused on the task at hand that I forget to take breaks. This has led to some minor health issues in the past, but I’ve learned to balance my work and rest more effectively.”

7. Do you prefer working independently or on a team?

This question can help an interviewer determine how you might fit into their organization. If your potential employer is a smaller company, they may value someone who prefers to work on their own. However, if the company has many employees, they may be looking for someone who enjoys teamwork. When answering this question, try to show that you are flexible and willing to adapt to different situations.

Example: “I have worked both independently and as part of a team in previous positions. I enjoy both experiences, but I think my skills are best suited for working with others. I am very good at communicating with others and helping them understand complex information. In fact, I find it rewarding when I can teach others something new.”

8. Have you worked as part of a cross-functional team before?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to work with others and collaborate on projects. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific time you worked as part of a team and what the project was.

Example: “I have worked as part of a cross-functional team before at my previous job where I helped create a new marketing campaign for our company’s health insurance plans. We had a lot of different departments involved in this project including sales, customer service and IT. It took us about six months to complete the campaign, but we were able to successfully launch it.”

9. Describe a time when you had to prioritize tasks that were not clear cut, which task came first and why?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to make decisions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the process you used to decide which task came first and how that helped you complete all tasks successfully.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, there were times when I had to prioritize unclear tasks. One time in particular, I had to choose between two important tasks. The first task was to call customers who hadn’t paid their bill yet and let them know they would no longer have access to our services if they didn’t pay by a certain date. The second task was to find new clients for the company.

I decided that calling delinquent customers was more important because we needed to keep our current customers happy so they would continue using our services. However, I also knew that finding new clients was essential to keeping our business running smoothly. So, I called each customer who owed us money and told them about the consequences of not paying on time. Then, I asked them if they would like to set up a payment plan or give us another chance to provide our services. Most agreed to pay what they owed and some even signed up for additional services.”

10. We are looking for someone who is comfortable putting together presentations. Can you tell me about a presentation you put together in your previous job?

This question is an opportunity to show your communication skills and how you can work with a team. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the teamwork involved in creating the presentation and the positive outcome of doing so.

Example: “In my previous role as a health insurance agent, I was tasked with putting together a presentation for our sales team on new products we were offering. I worked with two other agents to create the presentation, which included information about the product, pricing and benefits. We presented the information to the sales team at a weekly meeting, and they were able to use that information when talking to customers.”

11. What does excellent customer service mean to you?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and how you can help customers. When answering, it’s important to highlight the importance of customer service in health care.

Example: “Excellent customer service means that I am empathetic toward my patients and their needs. It also means that I am always looking for ways to improve the quality of care we provide. For example, when a patient calls with a concern or complaint, I make sure to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully. If they need additional support, I will do everything I can to ensure they are satisfied.”

12. Do you have any experience managing a team?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have leadership skills and how you might fit into their company. If you don’t have experience managing a team, explain what other types of management roles you’ve had in your previous positions.

Example: “In my last position as an insurance agent, I was responsible for training new agents on our products and services. This helped me develop my communication and presentation skills while also teaching others about the industry. In my current role, I am part of a small team that works together to meet sales goals each month. We are all very close and work well together.”

13. Are you familiar with clinical terminology?

This question is a great way to determine how well you understand medical terminology and the language of healthcare. It’s important for employees in this industry to be able to communicate with their patients, so it’s helpful if they can speak the same language as them.

Example: “I am very familiar with clinical terminology because I have worked in the health care field for many years. In my last position, I was responsible for translating between doctors and nurses when there were issues with patient records or other miscommunications. This helped me learn more about different illnesses and conditions, which has been beneficial in my career.”

14. If we hire you, what will be your greatest strength?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your skills and abilities. They want to know what you’re most passionate about, so they can determine if you’ll be a good fit for their company. When answering this question, think of something that is unique or uncommon in the healthcare industry.

Example: “My greatest strength would be my ability to communicate with patients. I have always been able to make people feel comfortable when talking to them, which has helped me build strong relationships with many of my clients. In fact, I’ve received several referrals from past clients because they enjoyed working with me.”

15. What is one thing that you think could improve our member services department?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and willingness to make improvements. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what you would do if you were in charge of the department.

Example: “I think one thing that could improve our member services department is having more staff members available during peak hours. I’ve noticed that there are times when callers have to wait for a long time before speaking with someone. This may be because we don’t have enough employees working at once or because some employees take longer than others to answer calls. Either way, I think hiring more employees or training current ones to answer calls more quickly could help.”

16. Give us an example of a time where you took initiative.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to take initiative. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you solved a problem or helped the company in some way.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that our customers were having trouble finding information on our website. So, I created a new search function for the website that made it easier for people to find what they were looking for. This saved us time and money because we didn’t have to hire someone else to do the work.”

17. How can you influence others to follow your lead?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you might lead a team of health insurance specialists. Use examples from your experience to explain how you would motivate others and encourage them to work toward common goals.

Example: “I believe that everyone has something unique to contribute to a team, so I always try to find ways for my colleagues to feel valued and appreciated. In my last role, I noticed one of our employees was having trouble with her computer skills. She felt embarrassed about asking for help, but I offered to give her extra training after hours. After working together, she gained confidence in her abilities and started helping other employees with their technology questions.”

18. How would you rate your interpersonal skills?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have strong communication skills and can work well with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you used your interpersonal skills to help solve a problem or achieve a goal.

Example: “I would rate my interpersonal skills as excellent. I’ve always been able to communicate effectively with others, which has helped me in previous roles where I was responsible for managing teams of employees. In one role, I had to manage a team of customer service representatives who were all working remotely. I found that regular check-ins and encouraging feedback helped motivate my team members and improve their performance.”

19. Do you have any experience with reporting data analysis?

Healthfirst is looking for candidates who can analyze data and provide insights to the company. This question helps them determine if you have experience with this process, which may help them decide whether or not you’re a good fit for their organization. If you do have experience reporting data analysis, share an example of how you did it. If you don’t have any experience, explain that you are willing to learn how to do so.

Example: “I’ve never had to report data analysis before, but I am open to learning more about it. I think it’s important to be able to understand what data means and how we can use it to improve our business.”

20. The most successful managers here are those who are able to make decisions quickly. Would you say that’s something you’re good at?

This question is a great way to determine how well you can adapt to the fast-paced environment of Healthfirst. It’s important that you show your interviewer that you’re confident in your decision-making skills and are willing to make decisions quickly when necessary.

Example: “I believe I’m quite good at making quick decisions, especially if they’re based on facts and data. In my last role as an insurance agent, I was often tasked with helping customers find the right plan for their needs. This required me to have strong communication skills and be able to explain complex information in a way that made sense to them.”