Apparatus and method for processing and/or for providing healthcare information and/or helathcare-related information

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing information regarding a plurality of individuals, a plurality of healthcare providers, and at least one healthcare insurer or healthcare payer, in a database or a memory device, wherein the information regarding a plurality of individuals, a plurality of healthcare providers, and at least one healthcare insurer or healthcare payer, includes a healthcare record or a healthcare history of, for, or associated with, each individual of the plurality of individuals, including a healthcare record or a healthcare history of, for, or associated with, an individual, information regarding a healthcare practice of, and an insurance accepted by, each of the plurality of healthcare providers, including information regarding a healthcare practice of, and an insurance accepted by, a healthcare provider, and information, a link, or a hyperlink, for allowing or for facilitating a healthcare provider, a healthcare insurer, a healthcare payer, or a third party, to access, control, monitor, or obtain information from, a healthcare device or a piece of healthcare equipment used to remotely monitor or to remotely obtain information from or regarding an individual;

processing, with or using a processing device, information for allowing a healthcare provider, a healthcare insurer, a healthcare payer, or a third party, to remotely access, via the Internet or the World Wide Web, using a first computer or a first communication device associated with or used by a healthcare provider, a healthcare insurer, a healthcare payer, or a third party, and using information, a link, or a hyperlink, stored in the database or the memory device or in the healthcare record or the healthcare history of the individual, a healthcare device or a piece of healthcare equipment used to remotely monitor or to remotely obtain information from or regarding an individual;

receiving information, a measurement, or a reading, regarding the individual obtained with or from the healthcare device or the piece of healthcare equipment;

storing the information, the measurement, or the reading, obtained with or from the healthcare device or the piece of healthcare equipment in the healthcare record or the healthcare history of the individual, or updating the healthcare record or the healthcare history of the individual with the information, the measurement, or the reading, obtained with or from the healthcare device or the piece of healthcare equipment.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

processing, using the processing device or a computer, information regarding a prescription or a referral for the individual;

generating the prescription or the referral;

transmitting information regarding the prescription or the referral to a second computer or a second communication device, wherein the second computer or the second communication device is associated with or used by a second provider who or which can fill the prescription or who or which can provide a healthcare service for the individual.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing information regarding the prescription or the referral in the healthcare record or the healthcare history of the individual.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating an insurance claim, wherein the insurance claim is automatically generated by the processing device or by a computer, in response to the storing of the information, the measurement, or the reading, obtained with or from the healthcare device or the piece of healthcare equipment in the healthcare record or the healthcare history of the individual, or in response to the updating of the healthcare record or the healthcare history of the individual with the information, the measurement, or the reading, obtained with or from the healthcare device or the piece of healthcare equipment, wherein the insurance claim is suitable for being automatically submitted to a healthcare insurer or a healthcare payer associated with the individual or is suitable for being automatically transmitted to a second computer or to a second communication device, wherein the second computer or the second communication device is associated with a healthcare insurer or a healthcare payer associated with the individual; and

transmitting the insurance claim to the second computer or to the second communication device.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

remotely dispensing or administering a medication, a medication, or a drug, to the individual via the healthcare device or the piece of healthcare equipment.

6 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the healthcare device or the piece of healthcare equipment is located at a home, at a hospital, or at a healthcare facility.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the healthcare device or the piece of healthcare equipment is located at or in a vehicle.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is an automobile, an ambulance, an emergency vehicle, a truck, a bus, a train, a subway train, or other land vehicle.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is a boat, a ship, a cruise ship, or a marine vessel.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is a helicopter, an airplane, an aircraft, or a jet.

11 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing information regarding a plurality of individuals, a plurality of healthcare providers, and at least one healthcare insurer or healthcare payer, in a database or a memory device, wherein the information regarding a plurality of individuals, a plurality of healthcare providers, and at least one healthcare insurer or healthcare payer, includes a healthcare record or a healthcare history of, for, or associated with, each individual of the plurality of individuals, including a healthcare record or a healthcare history of, for, or associated with, an individual, information regarding a healthcare practice of, and an insurance accepted by, each of the plurality of healthcare providers, including information regarding a healthcare practice of, and an insurance accepted by, a healthcare provider, and information, a link, or a hyperlink, for allowing or for facilitating an individual, to obtain information regarding an employee benefit the individual is enrolled in or is a beneficiary under, or to submit or to file a claim or a request for, or pursuant to, an employee benefit;

processing, with or using a processing device, information for allowing an individual to access a healthcare record or a healthcare history of the individual with or using a first computer or a first communication device;

processing information for allowing the individual to access or obtain information, a link, or a hyperlink, to information regarding an employee benefit in which the individual is enrolled;

processing information regarding an information request regarding the employee benefit or processing information for generating a claim or a request for, or pursuant to, the employee benefit;

generating a message containing information responsive to the information request or responsive to the claim or the request for, or pursuant to, the employee benefit; and

transmitting the message to the first computer or to the first communication device.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the message contains information confirming that the claim or the request was received.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the message contains information that the claim or the request is allowed or will be allowed, that a benefit or a payment in response to the claim or the request will be provided, or that a payment has been made, or will be made, to a financial account, a savings account, a checking account, or any other employee benefit financial account, of or associated with the individual.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

storing information regarding the claim or the request, or storing the message or information regarding the message, in the healthcare record or the healthcare history of the individual.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

processing information for allowing the individual to purchase, or to purchase an upgrade for, a healthcare insurance policy, a disability insurance policy, or a life insurance policy.

16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

processing information for enrolling the individual in a healthcare insurance policy, a disability insurance policy, or a life insurance policy.

17 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

storing, in the healthcare record or the healthcare history of the individual, information regarding the enrollment of the individual in the healthcare insurance policy.

18 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

processing information regarding a need or a requirement of the individual for a healthcare insurance policy;

generating a message containing information regarding the need or the requirement of the individual for a healthcare insurance policy; and

transmitting the message to second computer or a second communication device, wherein the second computer or the second communication device is associated with or used by a healthcare insurance company.

19 . The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , further comprising:

receiving a policy offer message from the second computer or the second communication device, wherein the policy offer message contains an offer of a healthcare insurance policy in response to the message;

providing the policy offer message to the individual;

processing information regarding a purchase of the healthcare insurance policy by the individual; and

enrolling the individual in the healthcare insurance policy.

20 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a policy offer message from a second computer or a second communication device, wherein the second computer or the second communication device is associated with or used by a healthcare insurance company;

providing the policy offer message to the individual;

processing information regarding a purchase of the healthcare insurance policy by the individual; and

enrolling the individual in the healthcare insurance policy.