Incentive Programs For Healthcare Cards

• US 20070185802A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Sachdev, Sunil, Harrison, Sarah, Jagatic, Jason
• Application Number:
  US11/461,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185802A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/36.T
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system to facilitate a purchase by a cardmember using a transaction instrument associated with a tax-advantaged account, wherein the tax-advantaged account is associated with a healthcare plan. A request is received from a merchant to charge the tax-advantaged account for a transaction associated with the transaction instrument. A determination is made whether the charge is for a covered tax-advantaged expense The tax-advantaged account is credited with healthcare plan related points associated with the value of the charge only if the charge is determined to be for a covered tax-advantaged expense. The tax-advantaged account is also credited with transaction instrument related points associated with the value of the charge only if the charge is determined to be for a covered tax-advantaged expense.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to facilitate a purchase by a cardmember using a transaction instrument associated with a tax-advantaged account, wherein the tax-advantaged account is associated with a healthcare plan, comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a merchant to charge the tax-advantaged account for a transaction associated with the transaction instrument;

(b) determining whether the charge is for a covered tax-advantaged expense; and

(c) crediting the tax-advantaged account with healthcare plan related points associated with the value of the charge only if the charge is determined to be for a covered tax-advantaged expense; and

(d) crediting the tax-advantaged account with second issuer points associated with the value of the charge only if the charge is determined to be for a covered tax-advantaged expense.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second issuer is the merchant requesting the charge.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second issuer is a transaction instrument issuer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second points issuer comprises a manufacturer of an item purchased.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second points issuer comprises an employer associated with the tax-advantaged account to be charged.

6. A computer-implemented method to facilitate the use by a cardmember of a tax-advantaged account, wherein the tax-advantaged account is associated with a healthcare plan, comprising:

(a) receiving a request from the cardmember to deposit funds into the tax-advantaged account for a transaction associated with the transaction instrument; and

(b) crediting the tax-advantaged account with healthcare plan related points associated with the value of the funds deposited into the tax-advantaged account.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the points are credited to the tax-advantaged account by an employer of the cardmember.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the points are credited to the tax-advantaged account by a transaction instrument issuer.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

(c) receiving a request from a merchant to charge the tax-advantaged account for a transaction;

(d) determining whether the charge is for a covered tax-advantaged expense; and

(e) crediting the tax-advantaged account with healthcare plan related points associated with the value of the charge only if the charge is determined to be for a covered tax-advantaged expense.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

(f) crediting the tax-advantaged account with second issuer points associated with the value of the charge only if the charge is determined to be for a covered tax-advantaged expense.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second issuer is the merchant requesting the charge.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second issuer is a transaction instrument issuer.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second points issuer comprises a manufacturer of an item purchased.