US Patent 7739129 Benefit plan intermediary

A method may receive data comprising a request to assure payment for a transaction with a consumer, the transaction being associated with a provision of a service or a sale of a product. Thereafter, it may be determined whether payment of at least a portion of the transaction will be covered by a benefit plan associated with the consumer, and additionally, whether the consumer is able to pay for at least a portion of the transaction not covered by the benefit plan. Data is then transmitted authorizing the transaction if a predetermined amount of the transaction will be covered by at least one of the benefit plan or the consumer. Related apparatuses, computer program products, and computer systems are also described.