How to Answer: At Aetna, sometimes we have to make difficult decisions about whether or not a medical service is covered. In the past, how did you put aside your personal feelings for the good of the business?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Aetna job interview.
5. At Aetna, sometimes we have to make difficult decisions about whether or not a medical service is covered. In the past, how did you put aside your personal feelings for the good of the business?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
In the health insurance and claims industry at Aetna, you may have to make difficult decisions, and some of them don't feel great. Your interviewer needs to know that the candidate they hire will come with the ability to face these difficult decisions with ease and class.
Written by Ryan Brunner on July 6th, 2022
How to Answer
Ensure the interviewer knows you can handle a difficult situation and do your job effectively by talking about a work situation in your past where you had to make a difficult decision that impacted others. You want to make sure your interviewer knows why this decision was important, how you communicated it to those impacted and what the result was.
Written by Ryan Brunner on July 6th, 2022
1st Answer Example
"I was working with a patient who had a procedure that wasn't covered. There was an alternative that was covered, but she had decided that wasn't the best route for her to take. I felt awful giving her this news, but I knew I couldn't approve of it. I did mention the scenario to my leader to double-check I had done the right thing, and she verified that I made a good call."
Written by Ryan Brunner on July 6th, 2022
2nd Answer Example
"I have a lot of empathy for others, so these situations are hard. I worked with a gentleman who had a denied claim and tried to point him in the direction of community resources that could help him pay for some of his expenses. I also referred him to a social worker at the hospital where he had his surgery to see what resources and payment plans they could come up with for him. I tried to give him the best service and look into as many alternatives as possible."
Written by Ryan Brunner on July 6th, 2022
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