WATERLOO -- United HealthCare is expanding in the Cedar Valley region, and bringing more jobs with it.

The Minnetonka, Minn.-based insurance carrier is looking to double the number of salaried employees in its call center on Airport Boulevard by adding about 25 positions, said Greg Thompson, a company spokesman.

The jobs, which will pay about $25,000, plus benefits, will go on line in early July, Thompson said.

Call center staffers respond to inquiries about health benefits, such as claims, payments, services covered, information on network physicians and reimbursement, Thompson said.

The positions require a high-school or GED diploma, one year of customer service or call-center experience, an ability and aptitude to analyze and solve routine customer problems and an ability to work as part of a team, Thompson said.

"One of the things I think could be particularly attractive is that the hours are 7 to 7, but there's flexibility in that time," Thompson said. "At some point down the road, as in a lot of facilities, there will be work-at-home opportunities, where we'd set up a phone and computer, and there's a way we can monitor and track, and people can work from home," he said. "In this day and age, with rising gas prices and different needs people have at home, this is an attractive opportunity."

The work-at-home option is only being studied currently, Thompson said.

United has been at its 3022 Airport Blvd. location in Waterloo since February 2006, when the parent company acquired John Deere Health Care, which previously operated there. It is one of 14 call centers the company has, Thompson said.

"They look at the general education, work ethic and success they've had in Iowa before and, as a result, we're looking at expansion of call centers around the country," Thompson said. "It seems Waterloo is at the top our list. As we're looking at expanding, we wanted to add some jobs there."

Application information is available at (319) 291-3200 or online at uhgjobsonline.com, Thompson said.

Contact Jim Offner at (319) 291-1598 or jim.offner@wcfcourier.com