Integrated nested account financial system with medical savings subaccount

• US 7,133,840 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2000
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Janine S. Kenna, Kelly Ur, Patrick B. Butler, Thomas Musmanno
• Inventors: Ur, Kelly, Kenna, Janine S., Butler, Patrick B., Musmanno, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Prieto, Beatriz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meucci, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US09/618,704
• Time in Patent Office: 2,303 Days
• Field of Search: 709/208, 709/212, 709/217, 705/35, 705/2, 705/3, 705/4, 705/36, 705/39, 705/40
• 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 the accounts being separated into a master account and at least one subaccount associated therewith, and at least one of the subaccount being a medical saving 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 system for managing a composite account comprising a plurality of subaccounts linked to a master account and associated with an individual, wherein each subaccount is directed to a particular profile of financial attributes and capabilities, comprising:

master account processing means for creating and managing said master account;

one or more electronic databases electronically linked to said master account processing means and configured to store data regarding said master account and said linked subaccounts;

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

subaccount processing means for creating and controlling subaccounts associated with said master account, wherein said subaccount processing means permits a particular profile of subaccount transactions to be associated with each 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 periodic basis.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said subaccounts is a medical savings account.

3. A system as in claim 2, further comprising means for transferring funds from said medical savings account for the payment of medically-related goods and services.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein payments made from said medical savings account are made to said master account, from which at least one of insurance premium and medical expense payments are made electronically.

5. A system as in claim 3, wherein at least one of said subaccounts is a bank account, and wherein said system is operable to automatically and periodically transfer funds from said bank account to said medical savings account.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said system is operable to transfer funds from another subaccount to said medical savings account if there are insufficient funds in said bank account.

7. A system as in claim 3, wherein said system is operable to transfer all funds remaining in said medical savings account at year-end into another subaccount comprising a long-term investment vehicle.

8. A system as in claim 3, further comprising a real-time link to an insurer computer and means to implement a paperless claims system.

9. A system as in claim 1, further comprising means for processing said individual'"'"'s desired fee allotment between said master account and said subaccounts.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein said means for processing said individual'"'"'s desired fee allotment is operable to charge all fees against said master account in a manner that provides cost savings to said individual over having fees charged against subaccounts.