Abstract: Methods and systems are related to the payment of pharmacy benefits under an insurance policy. The system includes pharmacies, a real-time claims processing adjudication component, an information component and a claims processing or billing component. When a qualified patient submits a prescription to a participating pharmacy, the pharmacy collects identifying information from the patient and conveys a request to the real-time claims adjudication component, which screens the request for a match to data already loaded in the system and conveys a notification of acceptance or error to the pharmacy. The real-time claims adjudication component compiles records of the approved claims and the claims processing component processes the claims, bills third party payors and generates periodic files detailing payments owed to pharmacies. Funds are then made available to the pharmacy. The pharmacy may obtain the funds by initiating a transfer, such as a charge placed on a card issued by the system.