HEALTHCARE-SPECIFIC CREDIT CARD BASED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHIFTING PATIENT HEALTHCARE COST-COLLECTION RISK FROM A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO A CREDIT CARD ISSUING COMPANY

摘要

A method for payment of healthcare costs for a patient includes supplying a healthcare provider with a card swipe machine having a card sensor for reading a payment card, a processor for calculating a bill, and a memory storing established discounts and risk payment amounts. A patient utilizing the payment card has a predetermined discount applied to a healthcare services bill. The payment card provider pays to the healthcare provider the discounted bill minus a negotiated risk payment amount for assuming the risk for collecting the payment. The payment card provider invoices the patient for the amount of the billed healthcare services and collects that amount from the patient.