Patent ID: 7866548

Claim:
A system for providing real-time access to funds available in at least one healthcare spending account, comprising: a. a point of sale system configured to recognize and support real-time transactions involving the at least one healthcare spending account, the point of sale system including: (1.) a first input device capable of recognizing items presented for purchase; (2.) a second input device capable of recognizing a healthcare spending account device identifying the at least one healthcare spending account; (3.) a processor system in communication with said first and said second input devices; b. a transaction processor system including: (1.) a first data structure configured to contain eligible item identifiers for items that are eligible for purchase using the at least one healthcare spending account and including an indicator for each item of whether the item is eligible for purchase using the at least one healthcare spending account; (2.) a second data structure configured to contain authorized item identifiers for items that are authorized for purchase using the at least one healthcare spending account; (3.) a third data structure configured to contain transaction data detail; (4.) a decision system using the eligible item identifiers contained in the first data structure, the authorized item identifiers contained in the second data structure, and the transaction data detail contained in the third data structure to process transactions and provide transaction information to the point of sale system; c. a first data communications network connecting the point of sale system and the transaction processor system to a financial card network; and d. a second data communications network connecting the point of sale system and the transaction processor system.