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Method and system for providing a flexible product purchase account for members of a healthcare organization

  • US 7,566,000 B2
  • Filed: 02/17/2005
  • Issued: 07/28/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of facilitating a redemption of a benefit provided by an organization for the purchase of items from a retail store comprising:

  • providing a point of sale (POS) terminal within the retail store;

    associating a plurality of items with a list;

    linking a plurality of members with the list, each of the plurality of members having an identification code;

    using the POS terminal to obtain a unique product ID for each item presented at the POS terminal;

    receiving at the POS terminal a benefit card of a member having a unique member ID stored thereon such that, when the benefit card is used, allows the member apply at least a portion of a remaining balance in a benefit account of the member towards the purchase of the items;

    using the POS terminal to obtain the unique member ID stored on the benefit card;

    determining if an item presented for purchase by the member is on the list linked to the member;

    sending from the POS terminal the unique customer ID to a server associated with the retail store;

    aggregating a total amount for the items presented for purchase that are on the list;

    sending an inquiry to a remote computer to determine in substantially real time if the benefit account corresponding to the unique member ID has a sufficient balance to cover the aggregated total of items presented for purchase that are on the list;

    receiving in substantially real time at the POS terminal an indication as to whether the benefit account corresponding to the unique member ID has a sufficient balance to cover the aggregated total of items presented for purchase that are on the list; and

    allowing the member to use the benefit account to pay for the items on the list.

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