Abstract: Healthcare insurance coverage is determined using an account within a payment processing system. A transmission addressed to the payment processing system is formed including an account number of an account associated with the payment processing system, a description of a healthcare related commodity rendered to a patient deriving healthcare insurance through an insured, and request for a specification of financial responsibility of the insured for the described said healthcare related commodity. A transmission is received from the payment processing system including the requested specification of financial responsibility.

Abstract: A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items.

Abstract: A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items.

Abstract: Healthcare insurance coverage is determined using an account within a payment processing system. A transmission addressed to the payment processing system is formed including an account number of an account associated with the payment processing system, a description of a healthcare related commodity rendered to a patient deriving healthcare insurance through an insured, and request for a specification of financial responsibility of the insured for the described said healthcare related commodity. A transmission is received from the payment processing system including the requested specification of financial responsibility.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses serving to provide assurance that healthcare providers will receive payment for services rendered. In one embodiment, a payment card (or other portable consumer device) provides an extended authorization hold period (for example up to 21 days). This hold period allows the healthcare provider to request authorization for payment from the patient's credit, debit, FSA, HRA, or HSA payment card, submit the insurance claim, and then upon receipt of a health insurance carrier's Explanation of Benefits (EOB) within the hold period, submit for settlement only that amount actually due from the patient. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, pending receipt of the EOB from the insurer, the healthcare provider flags a transaction in a point-of-sale (POS) terminal device or server for storage and delayed submittal over an electronic payment network.

Abstract: A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items.

Abstract: A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items.

Abstract: Transactions are processed in which payment is made using an account, such as a health savings account or other type of account in which cardholder purchases are limited to, and/or are documented for, a pre-designated set of merchandise. When a transaction occurs, the purchased products are identified and a determination made whether each product is qualified for purchase under the account. An account transaction record is stored which identifies the date of the transaction, the account, each item that is qualified under the account, a description and quantity of each item, and the total monetary amount of the transaction related to such qualified items. The account transaction records for a particular consumer are used to generate a report that contains data for every transaction on the account. The report can be limited to those transactions that occurred during a period of time, such as a calendar year.

Abstract: A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items.

Abstract: Healthcare purchase data from a transaction upon a patient's account may be required to be transported and stored for safeguarding patient confidentiality if sufficient to identify the patient and the purchase. To avoid non-compliance, a transaction hander (TH) receives the data from a merchant's acquirer as encrypted by a key known to both the acquirer and TH. After decrypting the data with that key, the TH re-encrypts it with a key known only to the TH, and then stored. After receiving an issuer's request for the data, the TH decrypts the data using its own key, re-encrypts it using a key known only to the TH and the issuer, and then sends it to the issuer who will decrypt the data using that key. The unencrypted data may be used by the issuer to demonstrate the issuer's regulatory compliance to a governmental entity.

Abstract: A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses serving to provide assurance that healthcare providers will receive payment for services rendered. In one embodiment, a payment card (or other portable consumer device) provides an extended authorization hold period (for example up to 21 days). This hold period allows the healthcare provider to request authorization for payment from the patient's credit, debit, FSA, HRA, or HSA payment card, submit the insurance claim, and then upon receipt of a health insurance carrier's Explanation of Benefits (EOB) within the hold period, submit for settlement only that amount actually due from the patient. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, pending receipt of the EOB from the insurer, the healthcare provider flags a transaction in a point-of-sale (POS) terminal device or server for storage and delayed submittal over an electronic payment network.

Abstract: Healthcare insurance coverage is determined using an account within a payment processing system. A transmission addressed to the payment processing system is formed including an account number of an account associated with the payment processing system, a description of a healthcare related commodity rendered to a patient deriving healthcare insurance through an insured, and request for a specification of financial responsibility of the insured for the described said healthcare related commodity. A transmission is received from the payment processing system including the requested specification of financial responsibility.

Abstract: A method for determining healthcare insurance coverage eligibility is disclosed. The method includes receiving patient information at a terminal operated by a healthcare provider. An eligibility authorization request message is created, and is sent to an acquirer processor, where the acquirer processor sends the eligibility authorization request message to a transaction processing system, which routes the eligibility authorization request message to a healthcare processor. A response message is then received.

Abstract: A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items.

Abstract: A method of using a dictionary of message codes related to health care information is provided. The message codes in the dictionary have corresponding message values. The method includes receiving at least one message value at a first device. The first device then generates at least one message code related to health care information from the at least one message value using corresponding message values from the dictionary. The method also includes transmitting the at least one message code over a payment processing network.