Zelis Healthcare Business Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Zelis Healthcare is a leading payments company in the healthcare sector that aims to align the interests of payers, providers, and consumers to deliver a more affordable and transparent financial experience.

The Business Analyst role at Zelis Healthcare is pivotal in supporting the Expert Claims Review initiatives, which include various solutions like Itemized Bill Review and Clinical Chart Review. The key responsibilities include gathering requirements for claims processing, providing documentation for system updates, supporting training for operations on new releases, and recommending process improvements. This role necessitates a strong understanding of payment integrity and healthcare claims, along with proficiency in project management and tools like Microsoft Office, JIRA, and Confluence. Ideal candidates will have excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across teams, ensuring that projects align with both business goals and technical needs.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insights into the key responsibilities and qualifications expected for the Business Analyst position at Zelis Healthcare. Familiarizing yourself with these aspects will boost your confidence and enhance your chances of making a strong impression.

The interview process for a Business Analyst at Zelis Healthcare is structured to assess both technical and interpersonal skills, ensuring candidates align with the company's mission and values. The process typically unfolds in several stages:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The first step is a phone interview with a recruiter, lasting about 30 minutes. This conversation focuses on your background, experience, and understanding of the healthcare industry, particularly in relation to payment integrity and claims processing. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the specific expectations for the Business Analyst role.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screen, candidates usually participate in a technical interview, which may be conducted via video call. This session often involves discussions around your technical skills, particularly in areas such as data analysis, project management, and familiarity with tools like JIRA and Confluence. Expect to answer questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and your understanding of healthcare analytics.

3. Behavioral Interview

Candidates will then engage in a behavioral interview, typically with a hiring manager or team lead. This round focuses on your past experiences and how they relate to the responsibilities of the Business Analyst role. You may be asked to provide examples of how you've handled challenging situations, collaborated with cross-functional teams, or contributed to process improvements in previous roles.

4. Onsite Interviews

The final stage usually consists of multiple onsite interviews, which may include a mix of one-on-one and panel interviews with various stakeholders, including product managers, developers, and quality assurance team members. These interviews delve deeper into your technical expertise, your ability to gather and document requirements, and your approach to facilitating communication between different teams. You may also be asked to present a case study or a project you've worked on, demonstrating your analytical skills and understanding of the healthcare landscape.

Throughout the process, candidates should be prepared to discuss their knowledge of medical coding, claims processing, and the healthcare revenue cycle, as well as their experience in agile methodologies and project management.

As you prepare for your interview, consider the specific questions that may arise during these stages.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Company’s Unique Challenges

Zelis Healthcare operates in a complex and evolving healthcare landscape. Familiarize yourself with the specific challenges the company faces, particularly in payment integrity and claims processing. This knowledge will allow you to tailor your responses to demonstrate how your skills and experiences can directly address these challenges.

Prepare for a Multi-Round Interview Process

Expect a thorough interview process that may include multiple rounds, such as phone interviews with HR, hiring managers, and team members, followed by onsite interviews. Be ready to discuss your past experiences in detail, particularly how they relate to the responsibilities of a Business Analyst. Prepare to articulate your thought process and problem-solving strategies clearly.

Emphasize Your Agile Experience

Given that the role involves working within an Agile framework, be prepared to discuss your experience with Agile methodologies. Highlight any specific projects where you contributed to Agile ceremonies, such as sprint planning or retrospectives, and how your involvement led to successful project outcomes.

Showcase Your Communication Skills

Effective communication is crucial in this role, as you will be acting as a liaison between various stakeholders. Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely. Consider discussing how you have facilitated discussions or resolved conflicts in past roles.

Be Ready for Technical Questions

While the interviewers may not have deep technical expertise, you should still be prepared to answer questions related to the technical aspects of the role. Brush up on your knowledge of tools like JIRA and Confluence, as well as your understanding of medical coding and claims processing. Be ready to discuss how you have used these tools in previous positions.

Highlight Your Problem-Solving Abilities

Zelis values candidates who can identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements. Prepare to discuss specific instances where you identified a problem, analyzed the situation, and implemented a solution that led to measurable improvements. Use metrics or outcomes to quantify your success.

Be Authentic and Inclusive

Zelis emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Be yourself during the interview and express your commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment. Share experiences that reflect your understanding of diverse perspectives and how you have contributed to a culture of belonging in previous roles.

Follow Up with Thoughtful Questions

At the end of the interview, take the opportunity to ask insightful questions that reflect your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or how success is measured in the Business Analyst role. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values.

By following these tips, you can present yourself as a well-prepared and knowledgeable candidate who is genuinely interested in contributing to Zelis Healthcare's mission. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Business Analyst interview at Zelis Healthcare. The interview process will likely focus on your analytical skills, understanding of healthcare claims, and ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders. Be prepared to discuss your experience in project management, requirements gathering, and process improvement.

Experience and Background

1. Can you describe your experience with healthcare claims processing and how it relates to the role of a Business Analyst?

Understanding the healthcare claims process is crucial for this role.

How to Answer

Discuss your relevant experience in healthcare claims, emphasizing your familiarity with the processes involved and how they impact business outcomes.

Example

“I have over five years of experience in healthcare claims processing, where I managed the end-to-end lifecycle of claims. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the nuances involved in claim submissions, denials, and appeals, which I believe is essential for effectively analyzing and improving our processes at Zelis.”

Technical Skills

2. What tools and methodologies do you use for requirements gathering and documentation?

This question assesses your familiarity with industry-standard tools and practices.

How to Answer

Mention specific tools you have used, such as JIRA, Confluence, or Microsoft Office Suite, and describe your approach to gathering and documenting requirements.

Example

“I typically use JIRA for tracking requirements and Confluence for documentation. My approach involves conducting stakeholder interviews to gather requirements, followed by creating user stories that clearly outline the needs and acceptance criteria for each project.”

Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills

3. Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.

This question evaluates your problem-solving abilities and resilience.

How to Answer

Choose a specific project, outline the challenges faced, and explain the steps you took to resolve them.

Example

“In a previous role, I was tasked with streamlining the claims review process, which was plagued by delays. I conducted a root cause analysis and discovered that communication gaps between departments were a major issue. By implementing regular cross-departmental meetings and a shared dashboard for tracking progress, we reduced processing time by 30%.”

Communication and Collaboration

4. How do you ensure effective communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders?

This question assesses your ability to bridge gaps between different teams.

How to Answer

Discuss your strategies for translating technical jargon into layman's terms and vice versa.

Example

“I focus on understanding the audience's perspective and tailor my communication accordingly. For instance, when presenting technical updates to non-technical stakeholders, I use visual aids and analogies to simplify complex concepts, ensuring everyone is on the same page.”

Process Improvement

5. Can you provide an example of a process improvement you implemented in a previous role?

This question looks for evidence of your ability to drive efficiency.

How to Answer

Share a specific example, detailing the process before and after your intervention.

Example

“In my last position, I noticed that our claims review process was inefficient due to redundant steps. I mapped out the entire workflow and identified bottlenecks. By eliminating unnecessary steps and automating certain tasks, we improved our turnaround time by 25%, which significantly enhanced client satisfaction.”

Agile Methodology

6. What is your experience with Agile methodologies, and how have you applied them in your work?

This question gauges your familiarity with Agile practices.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience with Agile frameworks, such as Scrum or Kanban, and how you have contributed to Agile teams.

Example

“I have worked in Agile environments for over three years, participating in daily stand-ups and sprint planning sessions. My role often involved collaborating with the Product Owner to prioritize the backlog and ensure that user stories were well-defined and ready for development.”

Stakeholder Management

7. How do you prioritize competing requests from multiple stakeholders?

This question assesses your ability to manage stakeholder expectations.

How to Answer

Explain your prioritization process, including how you balance urgency and importance.

Example

“I prioritize requests based on their impact on business objectives and deadlines. I maintain open communication with stakeholders to understand their needs and negotiate timelines when necessary. This approach ensures that I can manage expectations while delivering high-quality results.”

User-Centric Approach

8. How do you incorporate user feedback into your analysis and recommendations?

This question evaluates your commitment to user-centered design.

How to Answer

Discuss your methods for gathering and integrating user feedback into your work.

Example

“I regularly conduct user interviews and surveys to gather feedback on our products. I analyze this data to identify trends and pain points, which I then incorporate into my recommendations for process improvements or new features, ensuring that our solutions meet user needs effectively.”