Integrated nested account financial system with medical savings subaccount

• US 6,108,641 A
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Bank of America Corp.)
• Inventors: Kenna, Janine S., Butler, Patrick B., Musmanno, Thomas, Ur, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US09/172,796
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies

Abstract

A computer system for managing a plurality of accounts, each of the accounts being separated into a master account and at least one subaccount associated therewith, and at least one subaccount being a medical savings account (MSA). Each subaccount incorporates a subset of features available for the master account, the features corresponding to the specific needs dictated by the purpose of the subaccount. The purpose of a subaccount, in addition to being an MSA, can include regular payments (e.g., mortgage and other loans), credit/debit card, retirement account, and the like.

Claims

1. A data processing system for managing a plurality of accounts, wherein each account includes a master account, is held by a first individual, is directed to a particular profile of financial attributes and capabilities, and a medical services account associated with at least one account and the corresponding master account, comprising:

master account processing means for creating and controlling a master account;

master account input means for receiving account transactions from said individual corresponding to account activity inquiries and account asset transfers into and out from said master account;

subaccount processing means for creating and controlling one or more subaccounts associated with said master account, wherein said subaccount processor permits a particular profile of subaccount transactions to be associated with each said subaccount, said profile representing a subset of transaction functions or identifications associated with said master account;

paperwork control means for generating necessary paperwork associated with each master account and each of said one or more subaccounts, for sending such paperwork to said individual, and for determining that such paperwork has been received from and completed by said individual; and

account reporting means for creating and displaying or outputting reports of transactions undertaken for said master account and at least one of said one or more subaccounts on a regular periodic basis;

wherein at least one of said subaccounts is a Medical Savings Account (MSA) for payment of medical expenses, and optionally long-term savings management, of a subscriber to a medical plan, said system further comprising;

a subscriber account entry means for selectively receiving subscriber parameters and creating an associated MSA database entry, wherein each MSA in said database includes information regarding said subscriber, parameters defining allowable.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said account processing means includes means for transferring assets between said master account and each of said subaccounts.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said master account includes asset transaction means for support of at least one credit card, one checking account, and one security brokerage account.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said subaccounts include transaction capabilities specifically limited to asset transfer between said subaccount and said master account.

7. The data processing system of claim 3, wherein said subaccount processing means provides an identification that a particular subaccount is associated with a second individual and with a master account held by said first individual, and further provides an identification that said first and second individuals are members of the same household.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said subscriber parameters include annual funding amounts for said MSA, periods for contributions, a list of funding contributors, and relative funding percentages for each of said contributors.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said subscriber parameters include subscriber-changeable variables to skip a periodic contribution and make an extra contribution to said MSA.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said periodic account maintenance transactions include at least one processing step selected from the group of those relating to MSA contributions due, insurance premiums due, fees due, repayment of loans, and period-end routines, and combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said periodic account maintenance transactions include automatic transfer of remaining funds in said MSA at year end in accordance with said subscriber parameters.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said claim related data inputs include extended coding information regarding type of medical service provided.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said subscriber account processing means further comprises means for comparing said extended coding information to said subscriber parameters prior to payment of said claim inputs.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said claim related data inputs are conveyed to a third party for additional processing.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said subscriber account processing means includes a remote terminal adapted to receive subscriber information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said remote terminal is located at the facility of a medical service provider.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said remote terminal is adapted to receive subscriber information stored on a card.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said subscriber information is stored magnetically, electronically, or holographically.

5. The system of claim wherein said subaccount processing means provides an identification that a particular subaccount is associated with a second individual and with a master account held by said first individual.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said subaccount processing means and said profile further provides an identification that said first and second individuals are members of the same household.