Pros
Working as an HCC coder, I am able to work from home. Unlike some of the other contract companies that Optum works with, CSI seems a little better as far as benefits go. Working as a contractor for Optum is a great way to gain experience for new medical coders. The training is excellent as are the resources we use. Onboarding through CSI was seamless and my recruiter responsive.
Cons
Even though we do earn PTO and get a few holidays off after working almost a year with CSI, it's not the same benefits package as being a permanent Optum employee. Also, be prepared to be a "number" at Optum, as you are viewed through your metrics (speed, accuracy, speed, speed ;) calculations. LOTS of overtime, which can be a pro or con. This is really geared toward Optum- not necessarily CSI. Benefits are expensive, but at least CSI does offer them.
