Patents by Inventor Cullen L. Reed

Cullen L. Reed has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8464937
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a real time account control method and system that allows only eligible and authorized items to be purchased using the account. The present invention relates particularly to healthcare spending accounts such as flexible spending accounts and health reimbursement arrangements. The method can comprise the steps of: establishing at least one account, each account having an account holder; identifying at least one item eligible for purchase using one of the accounts; identifying at least one item authorized for purchase using one of the accounts; and, upon request to purchase an item using one of the accounts, authorizing the purchase for an amount not to exceed an available balance in that account only if the item is both an item identified as eligible for purchase and an item authorized for purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: Alegeus Technologies, LLC, Humana, Inc.
    Inventors: Cullen L. Reed, Richard L. Stephenson, Steven T. Brown, Joanne E. Gruchalski, Henry A. Widenski, Jr., Jeffrey Jay Erdmann
  • Patent number: 8265956
    Abstract: A method for providing insurance coverage to a subscriber comprises offering an insurance policy to the subscriber wherein the insurance policy comprises providing allowances to pay for one or more expenses covered by the insurance policy and providing monetary credits to the subscriber for any unused portion of a given allowance where the monetary credits can be used to cover the cost of a subsequent allowed expense. The insurance policy may be a pharmacy benefits plan. The covered expenses may be pharmacy expenses. The allowed expenses may be medical expenses which qualify under Section 213 of the US Internal Revenue Code for payment by an employer without the subscriber having to declare the payment as taxable income.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Humana Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Slen, Cullen L. Reed, Elizabeth D. Bierbower, Maureen M. Kinser, Jonathan T. Lord, Sandra L. Bartel
  • Publication number: 20120158427
    Abstract: A method for providing insurance coverage to a subscriber comprises offering an insurance policy to the subscriber wherein the insurance policy comprises providing allowances to pay for one or more expenses covered by the insurance policy and providing monetary credits to the subscriber for any unused portion of a given allowance where the monetary credits can be used to cover the cost of a subsequent allowed expense. The insurance policy may be a pharmacy benefits plan. The covered expenses may be pharmacy expenses. The allowed expenses may be medical expenses which qualify under Section 213 of the US Internal Revenue Code for payment by an employer without the subscriber having to declare the payment as taxable income.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: HUMANA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Slen, Cullen L. Reed, Elizabeth D. Bierbower, Maureen M. Kinser, Jonathan T. Lord, Sandra L. Bartel
  • Patent number: 8126737
    Abstract: A method for providing insurance coverage to a subscriber comprises offering an insurance policy to the subscriber wherein the insurance policy comprises providing allowances to pay for one or more expenses covered by the insurance policy and providing monetary credits to the subscriber for any unused portion of a given allowance where the monetary credits can be used to cover the cost of a subsequent allowed expense. The insurance policy may be a pharmacy benefits plan. The covered expenses may be pharmacy expenses. The allowed expenses may be medical expenses which qualify under Section 213 of the US Internal Revenue Code for payment by an employer without the subscriber having to declare the payment as taxable income.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Humana Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Slen, Cullen L. Reed, Elizabeth D. Bierbower, Maureen M. Kinser, Jonathan T. Lord, Sandra L. Bartel
  • Publication number: 20110173083
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a real time account control method and system that allows only eligible and authorized items to be purchased using the account. The present invention relates particularly to healthcare spending accounts such as flexible spending accounts and health reimbursement arrangements. The method can comprise the steps of: establishing at least one account, each account having an account holder; identifying at least one item eligible for purchase using one of the accounts; identifying at least one item authorized for purchase using one of the accounts; and, upon request to purchase an item using one of the accounts, authorizing the purchase for an amount not to exceed an available balance in that account only if the item is both an item identified as eligible for purchase and an item authorized for purchase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Cullen L. Reed, Richard L. Stephenson, Steven T. Brown, Joanne E. Gruchalski, Henry A. Widenski, JR., Jeffrey Jay Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20110153353
    Abstract: A method for providing insurance coverage to a subscriber comprises offering an insurance policy to the subscriber wherein the insurance policy comprises providing allowances to pay for one or more expenses covered by the insurance policy and providing monetary credits to the subscriber for any unused portion of a given allowance where the monetary credits can be used to cover the cost of a subsequent allowed expense. The insurance policy may be a pharmacy benefits plan. The covered expenses may be pharmacy expenses. The allowed expenses may be medical expenses which qualify under Section 213 of the US Internal Revenue Code for payment by an employer without the subscriber having to declare the payment as taxable income.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: HUMANA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Slen, Cullen L. Reed, Elizabeth D. Bierbower, Maureen M. Kinser, Jonathan T. Lord, Sandra L. Bartel
  • Patent number: 7895054
    Abstract: A method for providing insurance coverage to a subscriber comprises offering an insurance policy to said subscriber wherein said insurance policy comprises providing allowances to pay for one or more expenses covered by said insurance policy and providing monetary credits to said subscriber for any unused portion of a given allowance where said monetary credits can be used to cover the cost of a subsequent allowed expense. The insurance policy may be a pharmacy benefits plan. The covered expenses may be pharmacy expenses. The allowed expenses may be medical expenses which qualify under section 213 of the US Internal Revenue code for payment by an employer without said subscriber having to declare said payment as taxable income.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Humana Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Slen, Cullen L. Reed, Elizabeth D. Bierbower, Maureen M. Kinser, Jonathan T. Lord, Sandra L. Bartel
  • Patent number: 7866548
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a real time account control method and system that allows only eligible and authorized items to be purchased using the account. The present invention relates particularly to healthcare spending accounts such as flexible spending accounts and health reimbursement arrangements. The method can comprise the steps of: establishing at least one account, each account having an account holder; identifying at least on item eligible for purchase using one of the accounts; identifying at least one item authorized for purchase using one of the accounts; and, upon request to purchase an item using one of the accounts, authorizing the purchase for an amount not to exceed an available balance in that account only if the item is both an item identified as eligible for purchase and an item authorized for purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Metavante Corporation, Humana, Inc.
    Inventors: Cullen L. Reed, Richard L. Stephenson, Steven T. Brown, Joanne E. Gruchalski, Henry A. Widenski, Jr., Jeffrey Jay Erdmann