Paul J Reiss

US Patent:

20030182147, Sep 25, 2003

Filed:

Jan 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/337083

Inventors:

Joseph Mahoney - Chester PA, US
W. Garvin - Succasunna NJ, US
Joseph Catalfamo - Belleville NJ, US
Paul Reiss - West Caldwell NJ, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/001000

Abstract:

A method and system for administering a benefit plan for a sponsor with a widely diverse participant population. Using a combination of Internet enabled tools and databases, participants can enter and confirm their own data. Plan sponsors can view that information with reference to plan parameters and guidelines coded into the benefit plan. Databases contain the plan choices, sponsor's rules, and who has access to which information. The system computes liabilities owed by the sponsor, assets used to informally fund those liabilities, and cost recovery opportunities, if any. The browser enabled system uses the advantages of the Worldwide Web (and any thin-client intranet on the sponsor's site) as its primary contact tool, with alternatives of telephone, modem, or fax. Financial information is provided to the plan sponsor as participants make choices, provides payout options to the participants, and provides considerably more interactivity than prior methods of servicing employee benefits.