Method of providing health care insurance to consumers

• US 8,392,221 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milanovich Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: Milanovich Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Milanovich, Philip John
• Primary Examiner(s): Pauls, John
• Application Number:
  US12/563,939
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4, 713/193
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A method of providing insurance (including professional malpractice liability insurance) to consumers against unfavorable outcomes resulting from services, methods of rating risks associated with services, and a method of reducing the risk of unfavorable outcomes. In the twelfth preferred embodiment, hand-held (or other) electronic data processing devices are used throughout a process of providing health insurance. The patient (or another person) inputs initial information into the device. The cost of insurance for a first office visit is determined, and a menu of coverages is outputted. The patient then selects a particular coverage for a first office visit, and pays the premium for it. The doctor (or other health care provider) then evaluates the patient. Complete information is then inputted. The cost of insurance for one year is then determined, and a menu of coverages is outputted. The patient then selects a particular coverage for one year, and pays its premium.

Claims

1. A method of providing health care insurance to consumers, comprising the following steps:

inputting into a hand-held electronic data processing device initial information about an individual consumer, including the consumer'"'"'s occupation;

determining with the device the cost of a range of health care insurance coverages for only a first office visit based on the initial information;

displaying on the device a menu of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit and their costs to the individual consumer;

selecting a particular health coverage for the first office visit from the menu by the individual consumer using the device;

paying the premium for a policy for the first office visit selected by the individual consumer, using the device;

evaluating the individual consumer by a health care provider during the first office visit, and entering complete information about the individual consumer using the device;

determining with the device the cost of a range of health care insurance coverages for a period of time based on the complete information;

displaying on the device a menu of health care insurance coverages for the period of time and their costs to the individual consumer;

selecting a particular health coverage for the period of time from the menu by the individual consumer using the device; and

paying the premium for a policy for the period of time selected by the individual consumer, using the device;

wherein the menus of insurance coverages for the first office visit and for the period of time include insurance providing compensation only for unfavorable outcomes resulting from treatment, wherein the unfavorable outcomes did not result from malpractice.

2. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 1, wherein the complete information about the individual consumer includes genetic test results.

3. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 1, wherein the menu of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit includes a range of co-payment percentages.

4. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 1, wherein the menu of health care insurance coverages for the period of time includes a range of co-payment percentages.

5. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 1, wherein the cost of the range of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit is determined by the health of the individual consumer at the time that the data included in the initial information is inputted.

6. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 1, wherein the cost of the range of health care insurance coverages for the period of time is determined by the health of the individual consumer after the complete information is inputted, and the complete information includes data supplied by the health care provider and a health care system used by the health care provider.

7. A method of providing health care insurance to consumers, comprising the following steps:

inputting into a computer initial information about an individual consumer, including the consumer'"'"'s occupation;

determining with the computer the cost of a range of health care insurance coverages for only a first office visit based on the initial information;

outputting from the computer a menu of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit and their costs to the individual consumer;

selecting a particular health coverage for the first office visit from the menu by the individual consumer using the computer;

paying the premium for a policy for the first office visit selected by the individual consumer, using the computer;

evaluating the individual consumer by a health care provider during the first office visit, and entering complete information about the individual consumer using the computer;

determining with the computer the cost of a range of health care insurance coverages for a period of time based on the complete information;

outputting from the computer a menu of health care insurance coverages for the period of time and their costs to the individual consumer;

selecting a particular health coverage for the period of time from the menu by the individual consumer using the computer; and

paying the premium for a policy for the period of time selected by the individual consumer, using the computer;

wherein the menus of insurance coverages for the first office visit and for the period of time include insurance providing compensation only for unfavorable outcomes resulting from treatment, wherein the unfavorable outcomes did not result from malpractice.

8. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 7, wherein the complete information about the individual consumer includes genetic test results.

9. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 7, wherein the menu of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit includes:

a range of co-payment percentages.

10. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 7, wherein the menu of health care insurance coverages for the period of time includes

a range of co-payment percentages.

11. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 7, wherein the cost of the range of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit is determined by the health of the individual consumer at the time that the data included in the initial information is inputted.

12. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 7, wherein the cost of the range of health care insurance coverages for the period of time is determined by the health of the individual consumer after the complete information is inputted, and the complete information includes data supplied by the health care provider and a health care system used by the health care provider.

13. A method of providing health care insurance to consumers, comprising the following steps:

inputting into an electronic data processing device initial information about an individual consumer, including the consumer'"'"'s occupation;

determining with the device the cost of a range of health care insurance coverages for only a first office visit based on the initial information;

outputting from the device a menu of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit and their costs to the individual consumer;

selecting a particular health coverage for the first office visit from the menu by the individual consumer using the device;

paying the premium for a policy for the first office visit selected by the individual consumer, using the device;

evaluating the individual consumer by a health care provider during the first office visit, and entering complete information about the individual consumer using the device;

determining with the device the cost of a range of health care insurance coverages for a period of time based on the complete information;

outputting from the device a menu of health care insurance coverages for the period of time and their costs to the individual consumer;

selecting a particular health coverage for the period of time from the menu by the individual consumer using the device; and

paying the premium for a policy for the period of time selected by the individual consumer, using the device;

wherein the menus of insurance coverages for the first office visit and for the period of time include insurance providing compensation only for unfavorable outcomes resulting from treatment, wherein the unfavorable outcomes did not result from malpractice.

14. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 13, wherein the complete information about the individual consumer includes genetic test results.

15. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 13, wherein the menu of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit includes a range of co-payment percentages.

16. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 13, wherein the menu of health care insurance coverages for the period of time includes a range of co-payment percentages.

17. The method of providing health care insurance to consumers according to claim 13, wherein:

the cost of the range of health care insurance coverages for the first office visit is determined by the health of the individual consumer at the time that the data included in the initial information is inputted; and

the cost of the range of health care insurance coverages for the period of time is determined by the health of the individual consumer after the complete information is inputted, and the complete information includes data supplied by the health care provider and a health care system used by the health care provider.