Benefits services payment and credit system

A combined benefits service claim payment and credit system comprising:

• a transaction processor means;
• the transaction processor means including means for being in immediate communication with a benefits service provider over a communication link for receiving information from the benefits service provider in real time regarding a benefits service recipient and provided benefits service provided by or to be provided by the benefits service provider to the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor also including means for being in immediate communication with a claim payer over a communication link for transmitting information in real time to the claim payer relating to the benefits service recipient, the benefits service provider and the provided service or to be provided service and for receiving in real time confirmation of coverage and the amount of coverage;
• the transaction processor means further including means for being in immediate communication with a benefits service credit provider for transmitting to the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the benefits service recipient and a required amount of credit needed and for receiving from the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the availability of that amount of credit for the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor including means in response to the information received from the claim payer and from the benefits service credit provider for transferring in real time to the benefits service provider funds available to the benefit service provider or notification of funds available to the benefits service provider from either or both of the claim payer and benefits service credit provider.

A combined benefits service claim payment and credit method comprising:

• providing a transaction processor in immediate communication with a benefits service provider over a communication link and receiving information from the benefits service provider in real time regarding a benefits service recipient and provided benefits service provided or to be provided by the benefits service provider to the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor also being in immediate communication with a claim payer over a communication link and transmitting information in real time to the claim payer relating to the benefits service recipient, the benefits service provider and the provided service or to be provided service and receiving in real time confirmation of coverage and the amount of coverage;
• the transaction processor further being in immediate communication with a benefits service credit provider and transmitting to the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the benefits service recipient and a required amount of credit needed and for receiving in real time from the benefits service credit provider information regarding the availability of that amount of credit for the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor in response to the information received from the claim payer and from the benefits service credit provider transferring in real time to the benefits service provider funds available to the benefits service provider or notification of funds available to the benefits service provider from either or both of the claim payer and benefits service credit provider.

A combined benefits service claim payment and credit system comprising:

• a transaction processor;
• the transaction processor being in immediate communication with a benefits service provider over a communication link for receipt of information from the benefits service provider in real time regarding a benefits service recipient and provided benefits service provided or to be provided by the benefits service provider to the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor also being in immediate communication with a claim payer over a communication link for the transmission of information in real time to the claim payer relating to the benefits service recipient, the benefits service provider and the to be provided service or provided service and for receipt in real time of confirmation of coverage and the amount of coverage;
• the transaction processor further being in immediate communication with a benefits service credit provider for transmitting to the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the benefits service recipient and a required amount of credit needed and for receiving from the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the availability of that amount of credit for the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor in response to the information received from the claim payer and from the benefits service credit provider transferring in real time to the benefits service provider funds available to the benefit service provider or notification of funds available to the benefits service provider, from either or both of the claim payer and benefits service credit provider;
• the transaction processor providing the benefits service provider and the benefits service recipient with a respective statement memorializing the benefits service payment transaction.

A combined benefits service claim payment and credit system comprising:

• a transaction processor;
• the transaction processor being in immediate communication with a benefits service provider over a communication link for receipt of information from the benefits service provider in real time regarding a benefits service recipient and provided benefits service provided or to be provided by the benefits service provider to the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor also being in immediate communication with a claim payer over a communication link for the transmission of information in real time to the claim payer relating to the benefits service recipient, the benefits service provider and the to be provided service or provided service and for receipt in real time of confirmation of coverage and the amount of coverage;
• the transaction processor further being in immediate communication with a benefits service credit provider for transmitting to the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the benefits service recipient and a required amount of credit needed and for receiving from the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the availability of that amount of credit for the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor in response to the information received from the claim payer and from the benefits service credit provider transferring in real time to the benefits service provider funds available to the benefit service provider or notification of funds available to the benefits service provider, from either or both of the claim payer and benefits service credit provider;
• the transaction processor providing the benefits service provider and the benefits service recipient with a respective statement memorializing the benefits service payment transaction;
• the benefits service credit provider providing the benefits service recipient with a statement memorializing the credit transaction.

A combined benefits service claim payment and credit system comprising:

• a transaction processor;
• the transaction processor being in immediate communication with a benefits service provider over a communication link for receipt of information from the benefits service provider in real time regarding a benefits service recipient and provided benefits service provided or to be provided by the benefits service provider to the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor also being in immediate communication with a claim payer over a communication link for the transmission of information in real time to the claim payer relating to the benefits service recipient, the benefits service provider and the to be provided service or provided service and for receipt in real time of confirmation of coverage and the amount of coverage;
• the transaction processor further being in immediate communication with a benefits service credit provider for transmitting to the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the benefits service recipient and a required amount of credit needed and for receiving from the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the availability of that amount of credit for the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor in response to the information received from the claim payer and from the benefits service credit provider transferring in real time to the benefits service provider funds available to the benefit service provider or notification of funds available to the benefits service provider, from either or both of the claim payer and benefits service credit provider;
• the transaction processor providing the benefits service provider and the benefits service recipient with a respective statement memorializing the benefits service payment transaction;
• the benefits service credit provider providing the benefits service recipient with a statement memorializing the credit transaction;
• the respective statements memorializing the benefits service payment transaction and the benefits service credit transaction being a part of a statement periodically provided and including, if applicable, the memorializing of other similar transactions.

A combined benefits service claim payment and credit system comprising:

• a transaction processor;
• the transaction processor being in immediate communication with a benefits service provider over a communication link for receipt of information from the benefits service provider in real time regarding a benefits service recipient and provided benefits service provided or to be provided by the benefits service provider to the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor also being in immediate communication with a claim payer over a communication link for the transmission of information in real time to the claim payer relating to the benefits service recipient, the benefits service provider and the to be provided service or provided service and for receipt in real time of confirmation of coverage and the amount of coverage;
• the transaction processor further being in immediate communication with a benefits service credit provider for transmitting to the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the benefits service recipient and a required amount of credit needed and for receiving from the benefits service credit provider in real time information regarding the availability of that amount of credit for the benefits service recipient;
• the transaction processor in response to the information received from the claim payer and from the benefits service credit provider transferring in real time to the benefits service provider funds available to the benefit service provider or notification of funds available to the benefits service provider, from either or both of the claim payer and benefits service credit provider;
• the transaction processor providing the benefits service provider and the benefits service recipient with a respective statement memorializing the benefits service payment transactions,
• the benefits service credit provider providing the benefits service recipient with a statement memorializing the credit transaction.
• the respective statement memorializing the benefits service payment transaction and the benefits service credit transaction being a part of a statement periodically provided and including, if applicable, the memorializing of other similar transactions;
• the benefits service provider receiving information from the benefits service recipient from an identification token issued to the benefits service recipient by the benefits service credit provider, the claim payer or the transaction processor.