Systems and methods for using a dual function medical benefits card

1. A method of conducting a transaction using a dual function card, the method transacted amongst a processor in selective communication with a merchant point of sale (POS), the method comprising:

receiving by the processor from the merchant POS a transaction message, the transaction message comprising:

an indicia of the dual function card; and

identifiers of one or more goods and/or services selected for obtainment by a customer at the POS;

determining by the processor, based on the indicia of the dual function card:

whether a merchant associated with the merchant POS is a participating merchant or a non-participating merchant;

at least one associated closed loop value account, an amount of value associated with the closed loop value account, and a schedule of eligible goods and/or services that can be obtained using the at least one associated closed loop value account;

at least one associated open loop value account, and an amount of value associated with the open loop value account;

upon a determination that the merchant is a participating merchant:

determining by the processor, eligible goods and/or services, if any, from the one or more goods and/or services;

determining a total amount purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services and comparing the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services to the amount of value associated with the closed loop value account, and upon a determination that the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services is less than or equal to the amount of value associated with the closed loop value account authorizing the transaction and deducting the total amount purchase amount from the amount of value associated with the closed loop account;

upon a determination that the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services is less than the amount of value associated with the closed loop account, determining a deficit and determining if the amount of value associated with the open loop account is greater than or equal to the deficit, and if so, authorizing the transaction and deducting all value from the closed loop value account and the deficit from the open loop value account; and

upon a determination that the merchant is a non-participating merchant, determining a total purchase amount of all goods and/or services selected by the customer and processing payment for all goods and/or services using the open loop account.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual function card is a medical benefits card and eligible goods and/or services comprise qualifying medical expenses.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the merchant POS is selected from the group consisting of: a merchant terminal located at a retail outlet; a computer processing a transaction conducted on the Internet or electronically; and a program, software, application, or app processing a transaction conducted electronically.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives the transaction message over an open loop credit or debit card network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives the transaction message over a closed loop or private network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives the transaction message over the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifiers of the goods and/or services comprise stock keeping units (SKUs) of each good and/or service.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifiers of the goods and/or services comprise an identifier in a format in conformance with National Council for Prescription Drug Program (NCPDP).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor is in selective communication with a data store, and wherein the processor determines eligible goods and/or services, if any, from the one or more goods and/or services by determining if any of the identifiers of the one or more goods and/or services matches an identifier stored in the data store as an eligible good and/or service.

10. A method of conducting a transaction using a dual function card, the method transacted amongst a central processor in selective communication with a merchant point of sale (POS), the method comprising:

receiving at the POS identifiers of one or more goods and/or services for obtainment by a customer;

receiving at the POS an indicia of a dual function card;

determining by the POS, based upon the indicia of the dual function card, a processor associated with the dual function card;

sending to the processor a transaction message comprising:

the indicia of the dual function card; and

the identifiers of the one or more goods and/or services;

receiving by the processor the transaction message;

determining by the processor, based on the indicia of the dual function card:

at least one associated closed loop value account, an amount of value associated with the closed loop value account, and a schedule of eligible goods and/or services that can be obtained using the at least one associated closed loop value account;

at least one associated open loop value account, and an amount of value associated with the open loop value account;

determining by the processor if a merchant associated with the merchant POS is a participating merchant or a non-participating merchant;

upon a determination that the merchant is a participating merchant:

determining by the processor, eligible goods and/or services, if any, from the one or more goods and/or services;

determining a total amount purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services and comparing the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services to the amount of value associated with the closed loop value account, and upon a determination that the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services is less than or equal to the amount of value associated with the closed loop value account authorizing the transaction and deducting the total amount purchase amount from the amount of value associated with the closed loop account;

upon a determination that the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services is less than the amount of value associated with the closed loop account, determining a deficit and determining if the amount of value associated with the open loop account is greater than or equal to the deficit, and if so, authorizing the transaction and deducting all value from the closed loop value account and the deficit from the open loop value account; and

upon a determination that the merchant is a non-participating merchant, determining a total purchase amount of all goods and/or services selected by the customer and processing payment for all goods and/or services using the open loop account.

11. A method of conducting a transaction using a dual function card associated with an indicia, the method transacted amongst a central processor in selective communication with one or more merchants, the method comprising:

receiving at the central processor over an open loop network from a non-participating merchant a transaction request message, the transaction request message comprising:

the indicia of the dual function card; and

an open loop transaction amount;

determining by the central processor based on the indicia an open loop value account and an amount of value therein;

determining by the central processor if the transaction amount is less than or equal to the amount of value in the open loop value account, and if so, authorizing the transaction and deducting the transaction amount from the amount of value in the open loop account;

receiving at the central processor over a closed loop or private network from a participating merchant a transaction request, the transaction request comprising:

the indicia of the dual function card; and

identifiers of one or more goods and/or services selected for obtainment by a customer at the POS;

determining by the central processor, based on the indicia:

at least one associated closed loop value account, an amount of value associated with the closed loop value account, and a schedule of eligible goods and/or services that can be obtained using the at least one associated closed loop value account;

at least one associated open loop value account, and an amount of value associated with the open loop value account;

determining by the processor, eligible goods and/or services, if any, from the one or more goods and/or services;

determining a total amount purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services and comparing the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services to the amount of value associated with the closed loop value account, and upon a determination that the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services is less than or equal to the amount of value associated with the closed loop value account authorizing the transaction and deducting the total amount purchase amount from the amount of value associated with the closed loop account;

upon a determination that the total purchase amount for the eligible goods and/or services is less than the amount of value associated with the closed loop account, determining a deficit and determining if the amount of value associated with the open loop account is greater than or equal to the deficit, and if so, authorizing the transaction and deducting all value from the closed loop value account and the deficit from the open loop value account.