Incentive Programs For Healthcare Cards
A computer-implemented method and system to facilitate a purchase by a cardmember using a transaction instrument. A request to charge a tax-advantaged account for a transaction using the transaction instrument is received at a host computer. A determination is made whether the charge is for a covered tax-advantaged expense. The tax-advantaged account is credited with points associated with the value of the charge only if the charge is determined to be for a covered tax-advantaged expense.
1 . A computer-implemented method to facilitate a purchase by a cardmember using a transaction instrument, comprising:
receiving a request to charge a tax-advantaged account for a transaction using the transaction instrument;
determining whether the charge is for a covered tax-advantaged expense; and
crediting the tax-advantaged account with points associated with the value of the charge only if the charge is determined to be for a covered tax-advantaged expense.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the charge is for a first type of tax-advantaged expense, and if so, then crediting the tax-advantaged account with a first value of points associated with the value of the charge; and
determining whether the charge is for a second type of tax-advantaged expense, and if so, then crediting the tax-advantaged account with a second value of points associated with the value of the charge, wherein the first and second values of points are different.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
(a) if the charge can be automatically determined to be a tax-advantaged expense, then crediting the tax-advantaged account with the first value of points; and
(b) if the charge must be manually determined to be a tax-advantaged expense, then crediting the tax-advantaged account with the second value of points.
4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the first value of points is greater than the second value of points.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cardmember can redeem the points in the tax-advantaged account only for healthcare related rewards or discounts.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the points can be redeemed for one or more of discounts on physical fitness club memberships, athletic equipment, and healthcare merchant charges.
7 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) receiving a request from the cardmember to transfer at least some of the points credited to the tax-advantaged account to a second tax-advantaged account;
(d) determining whether the second tax-advantaged account may properly be credited with the points; and
(e) if so, then transferring the requested points from the first tax-advantaged account to the second tax-advantaged account.
8 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second tax-advantaged accounts are healthcare accounts.
9 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 8 , wherein all of the points associated with each of the first and second tax-advantaged accounts are administered by a single entity.
10 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second healthcare accounts are administered by the same healthcare plan.
11 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second healthcare accounts are administered by different healthcare plans.
12 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 8 , wherein the second tax-advantaged account is associated with a second cardmember.
13 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 12 , wherein the second cardmember is in the same family unit as the first cardmember.
14 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 13 , wherein the second cardmember is one of a spouse, child, or parent of the first cardmember.
15 . A computer-implemented method to facilitate tax-advantaged purchases by a cardmember, comprising:
(f) crediting a first tax-advantaged account with points associated with tax-advantaged purchases using a transaction instrument associated with the first tax-advantaged account;
(g) receiving a request to transfer some or all of the points associated with the first tax-advantaged account to a second tax-advantaged account; and
(h) transferring the requested points from the first tax-advantaged account to the second tax-advantaged account.
16 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 15 , further comprising receiving the request to transfer points from a cardmember associated with the first tax-advantaged account.
17 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 16 , wherein said first and second tax-advantaged accounts are healthcare accounts.
18 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 17 , wherein all of the points associated with each of the first and second tax-advantaged accounts are administered by a single entity.
19 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 17 , wherein said first and second healthcare accounts are administered by the same healthcare plan.
20 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 17 , wherein said first and second healthcare accounts are administered by different healthcare plans.
21 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 17 , wherein said second tax-advantaged account is created for a second cardmember.
22 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 21 , wherein the second cardmember is in the same family unit as the first cardmember.
23 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 22 , wherein the second cardmember is one of a spouse, child, or parent of the first cardmember.