Benefit plan intermediary
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving data comprising a request to assure payment for a transaction with a consumer, the transaction being associated with a provision of a service or a sale of a product;
automatically determining whether payment of at least a portion of the transaction will be covered by a benefit plan associated with the consumer;
automatically determining whether the consumer is able to pay for at least a portion of the transaction not covered by the benefit plan; and
automatically transmitting data authorizing the transaction if a predetermined amount of the transaction will be covered by at least one of the benefit plan or the consumer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method may receive data comprising a request to assure payment for a transaction with a consumer, the transaction being associated with a provision of a service or a sale of a product. Thereafter, it may be determined whether payment of at least a portion of the transaction will be covered by a benefit plan associated with the consumer, and additionally, whether the consumer is able to pay for at least a portion of the transaction not covered by the benefit plan. Data is then transmitted authorizing the transaction if a predetermined amount of the transaction will be covered by at least one of the benefit plan or the consumer. Related apparatuses, computer program products, and computer systems are also described.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving data comprising a request to assure payment for a transaction with a consumer, the transaction being associated with a provision of a service or a sale of a product;
automatically determining whether payment of at least a portion of the transaction will be covered by a benefit plan associated with the consumer;
automatically determining whether the consumer is able to pay for at least a portion of the transaction not covered by the benefit plan; and
automatically transmitting data authorizing the transaction if a predetermined amount of the transaction will be covered by at least one of the benefit plan or the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving data comprising a request to pre-authorize payment for a transaction with a consumer, the transaction being associated with a provision of a service or a sale of a product;
automatically determining whether payment of at least a portion of the transaction will be covered by at least one benefit plan associated with the consumer;
automatically determining whether payment of at least a portion of the transaction will be covered by at least one benefit spending account associated with the consumer;
automatically determining whether the consumer is able to pay for at least a portion of the transaction not covered by both of the at least one benefit plan and the at least one benefit spending account; and
automatically transmitting data pre-authorizing the transaction if a predetermined amount of the transaction will be covered by at least one of the at lease one benefit plan, the at least one benefit spending account, or the consumer.
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20. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving data comprising a request to approve a transaction with a consumer, the transaction requiring a payment and being associated with a provision of a service or a sale of a product;
associating at least one of the consumer and the transaction with one or more payment sources;
ranking each of the associated one or more payment sources into a ranking order based on predetermined coverage priorities for the transaction;
sequentially polling each of the associated one or more payment sources according to the ranking order until it is determined that a predetermined amount of payment will be covered by the polled one or more payment sources; and
transmitting data approving the transaction if a predetermined amount of the transaction will be covered by the polled one or more payment sources.
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21. An apparatus comprising:
a receiver to receive a request to assure payment for a transaction with a consumer, the transaction being associated with a provision of a service or a sale of a product;
a determination unit to determine whether payment of at least a portion of the transaction will be covered by a benefit plan associated with the consumer, and to determine whether the consumer is able to pay for any portions of the transaction not covered by the benefit plan; and
an authorization unit to send data authorizing the transaction if a predetermined amount of the transaction will be covered by at least one of the benefit plan or the consumer.
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22. A computer program product, embodied on computer readable-material, said computer program product including executable instructions that cause a computer system to conduct one or more of operations comprising:
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receive data comprising a request to assure payment for a transaction with a consumer, the transaction being associated with a provision of a service or a sale of a product;
determine whether payment of at least a portion of the transaction will be covered by a benefit plan associated with the consumer;
determine whether the consumer is able to pay for at least a portion of the transaction not covered by the benefit plan; and
transmit data authorizing the transaction if a predetermined amount of the transaction will be covered by at least one of the benefit plan or the consumer.
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Specification