Incentive Programs For Healthcare Cards

• US 20100211493A9
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• 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:
  US11/461,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185803A1
• 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. A request to charge a tax-advantaged account for a transaction using the transaction instrument is received at a host computer. A determination is made whether the charge is for a covered tax-advantaged expense. The tax-advantaged account is credited with 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, comprising:

receiving a request to charge a tax-advantaged account for a transaction using the transaction instrument;

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

crediting the tax-advantaged account with 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, further comprising:

determining whether the charge is for a first type of tax-advantaged expense, and if so, then crediting the tax-advantaged account with a first value of points associated with the value of the charge; and

determining whether the charge is for a second type of tax-advantaged expense, and if so, then crediting the tax-advantaged account with a second value of points associated with the value of the charge, wherein the first and second values of points are different.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) if the charge can be automatically determined to be a tax-advantaged expense, then crediting the tax-advantaged account with the first value of points; and

(b) if the charge must be manually determined to be a tax-advantaged expense, then crediting the tax-advantaged account with the second value of points.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first value of points is greater than the second value of points.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cardmember can redeem the points in the tax-advantaged account only for healthcare related rewards or discounts.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the points can be redeemed for one or more of discounts on physical fitness club memberships, athletic equipment, and healthcare merchant charges.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:

(c) receiving a request from the cardmember to transfer at least some of the points credited to the tax-advantaged account to a second tax-advantaged account;

(d) determining whether the second tax-advantaged account may properly be credited with the points; and

(e) if so, then transferring the requested points from the first tax-advantaged account to the second tax-advantaged account.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 7, wherein the first and second tax-advantaged accounts are healthcare accounts.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8, wherein all of the points associated with each of the first and second tax-advantaged accounts are administered by a single entity.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second healthcare accounts are administered by the same healthcare plan.

11. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second healthcare accounts are administered by different healthcare plans.

12. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8, wherein the second tax-advantaged account is associated with a second cardmember.

13. The computer-implemented method according to claim 12, wherein the second cardmember is in the same family unit as the first cardmember.

14. The computer-implemented method according to claim 13, wherein the second cardmember is one of a spouse, child, or parent of the first cardmember.

15. A computer-implemented method to facilitate tax-advantaged purchases by a cardmember, comprising:

(f) crediting a first tax-advantaged account with points associated with tax-advantaged purchases using a transaction instrument associated with the first tax-advantaged account;

(g) receiving a request to transfer some or all of the points associated with the first tax-advantaged account to a second tax-advantaged account; and

(h) transferring the requested points from the first tax-advantaged account to the second tax-advantaged account.

16. The computer-implemented method according to claim 15, further comprising receiving the request to transfer points from a cardmember associated with the first tax-advantaged account.

17. The computer-implemented method according to claim 16, wherein said first and second tax-advantaged accounts are healthcare accounts.

18. The computer-implemented method according to claim 17, wherein all of the points associated with each of the first and second tax-advantaged accounts are administered by a single entity.

19. The computer-implemented method according to claim 17, wherein said first and second healthcare accounts are administered by the same healthcare plan.

20. The computer-implemented method according to claim 17, wherein said first and second healthcare accounts are administered by different healthcare plans.

21. The computer-implemented method according to claim 17, wherein said second tax-advantaged account is created for a second cardmember.

22. The computer-implemented method according to claim 21, wherein the second cardmember is in the same family unit as the first cardmember.

23. The computer-implemented method according to claim 22, wherein the second cardmember is one of a spouse, child, or parent of the first cardmember.