Patent Issued for Systems And Methods For Analyzing Insurance Claims Associated With Long-Term Care Insurance (USPTO 10,499,991)

2019 DEC 23 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Hospital & Nursing Home Daily -- According to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx journalists, a patent by the inventors Myers, Jeremy (Normal, IL); Boyer, Brittany (Bloomington, IL); Hunt, Dana (Normal, IL); Turrentine, David (Bloomington, IL); Ingrum, Larry J. (Mahomet, IL); Olander, Erin (Lincoln, IL); Blakney, Nicole M. (Bloomington, IL); Williams, Aaron C. (Bloomington, IL), filed on December 8, 2017, was published online on December 23, 2019.

The assignee for this patent, patent number 10,499,991, is State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Bloomington, Illinois, United States).

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Long-term care insurance is an insurance product that helps provide for the cost of long-term care beyond a predetermined period. The insurance product covers care that is generally not covered by traditional health insurance or government-sponsored healthcare programs. Typical individuals who are covered by long-term care insurance may be unable to perform certain activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing and showering, dressing, eating/feeding, functional mobility, personal hygiene and grooming (e.g., brushing/combing hair), toilet hygiene, and others. There are various benefits of long-term care insurance, including the ability to cover costly out-of-pocket expenses, potential income tax deduction on premium payments, and the expertise of professional caregivers versus family and friends.

“A long-term care insurance policy may cover care in a variety of environments, including home care, assisted living, adult daycare, respite care, hospice care, nursing home facilities, and Alzheimer’s facilities. Generally, long-term care insurance can be more costly relative to traditional health insurance because of the complexity and difficulty of some of the services. As a result, there is a need to reduce costs both for the caregiver as well as for the policyholder. In particular, costs may generally be reduced if a policyholder’s property is the primary place of care, versus a dedicated facility.

“Accordingly, there is an opportunity for platforms and techniques to accurately assess insurance claims associated with long-term care insurance.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of processing an insurance claim associated with a long-term care insurance policy held by a customer residing in a property, the property populated with a plurality of devices and a hardware controller connected to the plurality of devices, may be provided. The method may include receiving an insurance claim for the long-term care insurance policy, the insurance claim initiated by a caregiver and indicating a set of purported services performed by the caregiver, receiving, from the hardware controller, a set of data collected by at least a portion of the plurality of devices, analyzing, by one or more processors, the set of data to determine a set of actual services performed within the property, comparing, by the one or more processors, the set of purported services to the set of actual services, and, based on the comparing, processing the insurance claim.

“In another embodiment, a system for processing an insurance claim associated with a long-term care insurance policy held by a customer residing in a property, the property populated with a plurality of devices and a hardware controller connected to the plurality of devices, may be provided. The system may include a communication module adapted to communicate data, a memory adapted to store non-transitory computer executable instructions, and a processor adapted to interface with the communication module. The processor may be configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to receive, via the communication module, an insurance claim for the long-term care insurance policy, the insurance claim initiated by a caregiver and indicating a set of purported services performed by the caregiver, receive, from the hardware controller via the communication module, a set of data collected by at least a portion of the plurality of devices, analyze the set of data to determine a set of actual services performed within the property, compare the set of purported services to the set of actual services, and, based on the comparing, process the insurance claim.

“In a further embodiment, a controller device connected to a plurality of devices within a property and configured to facilitate processing of an insurance claim associated with a long-term care insurance policy held by a customer residing in the property may be provided. The controller device may include a communication module adapted to communicate data, a memory adapted to store non-transitory computer executable instructions, and a processor adapted to interface with the communication module and the memory. The processor may be configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to receive, via the communication module, an insurance claim for the long-term care insurance policy, the insurance claim initiated by a caregiver and indicating a set of purported services performed by the caregiver, collect, via the communication module, a set of data collected by at least a portion of the plurality of devices, analyze the set of data to determine a set of actual services performed within the property, compare the set of purported services to the set of actual services, and facilitate, with an insurance provider that issued the long-term care insurance policy, processing of the long-term care insurance policy based on the comparison.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“What is claimed:

“1. A computer-implemented method in a server of processing an insurance claim associated with a long-term care insurance policy held by a customer residing in a property, the property populated with a plurality of devices and a hardware controller connected to the plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices incorporating at least one sensor, the method comprising: receiving, by the server, an insurance claim for the long-term care insurance policy, the insurance claim initiated by a caregiver and indicating a set of purported services performed by the caregiver; determining, from the insurance claim, at least a portion of the set of purported services that are verifiable; identifying at least a portion of the plurality of devices that corresponds to at least the portion of the set of purported services; sending, from the server to the hardware controller via a network connection, a request for a set of data collected by at least the portion of the plurality of devices, wherein the hardware controller relays the request, via a local communication network, to at least one of (i) at least the portion of the plurality of devices or (ii) a database associated with the hardware controller, the database storing the set of data collected by at least the portion of the plurality of devices, wherein the request includes a set of specific time periods associated with when the set of purported services were performed; receiving, by the server from the hardware controller via the network connection, the set of data collected by at least the portion of the plurality of devices, the set of data transmitted, to the hardware controller via the local communication network, from at least one of (i) at least the portion of the plurality of devices or (ii) the database associated with the hardware controller, the set of data indicating, for each of at least the portion of the plurality of devices, a set of activations and deactivations of the at least one sensor incorporated into the respective device; analyzing, for each of at least the portion of the plurality of devices by at least one processor of the server, the set of activations and deactivations of the at least one sensor incorporated into the respective device; based on analyzing the set of activations and deactivations, calculating a set of time periods during which each of at least the portion of the plurality of devices was activated; determining a set of actual services performed within the property including, for each of the set of time periods, comparing the respective time period to a requisite time period associated with a service performance; comparing, by the one or more processors, the set of purported services to the set of actual services; and after the comparing, causing an electronic device to display, in a user interface, a monetary amount of the set of purported services and a monetary amount of the set of actual services, wherein the user interface further displays, concurrently with the monetary amount of the set of purported services and the monetary amount of the set of actual services, (i) a selection for approving the insurance claim, (ii) a selection for denying the insurance claim, and (iii) a selection for further inquiring about the insurance claim.

“2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein comparing the set of purported services to the set of actual services comprises: identifying, from the insurance claim, the monetary amount of the set of purported services; calculating, based on the set of actual services, the monetary amount of the set of actual services; and comparing the monetary amount of the set of purported services to the monetary amount of the set of actual services.

“3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein comparing the monetary amount of the set of purported services to the monetary amount of the set of actual services comprises: determining that the monetary amount of the set of purported services differs from the monetary amount of the set of actual services by at least a threshold amount.

“4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein comparing the set of purported services to the set of actual services comprises: identifying at least one of the set of purported services that is not included in the set of actual services.

“5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, after the comparing, processing the insurance claim including at least one of: approving the insurance claim; flagging the insurance claim; denying the insurance claim; and contacting the caregiver.

“6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein comparing the respective time period to the requisite time period associated with the service performance comprises: determining that the respective time period at least meets the requisite time period associated with the service performance.

“7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, from the insurance claim, an additional portion of the set of purported services that are not verifiable.

“8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least the portion of the plurality of devices that corresponds to at least the portion of the set of purported services comprises: identifying, based on a data record associated with the long-term care insurance policy, at least the portion of the plurality of devices that corresponds to at least the portion of the set of purported services.

“9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the set of data includes motion detection data indicating presence information.

“10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein comparing, by the one or more processors, the set of purported services to the set of actual services comprises: determining a set of discrepancies between the set of purported services and the set of actual services.

“11. A system for processing an insurance claim associated with a long-term care insurance policy held by a customer residing in a property, the property populated with a plurality of devices and a hardware controller connected to the plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices incorporating at least one sensor, comprising: a communication module for communicating data via a network connection; a memory storing non-transitory computer executable instructions; and a processor interfacing with the communication module and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive, via the communication module, an insurance claim for the long-term care insurance policy, the insurance claim initiated by a caregiver and indicating a set of purported services performed by the caregiver, determine, from the insurance claim, at least a portion of the set of purported services that are verifiable, identify at least a portion of the plurality of devices that corresponds to at least the portion of the set of purported services, send, to the hardware controller via the communication module, a request for a set of data collected by at least the portion of the plurality of devices, wherein the hardware controller relays the request, via a local communication network, to at least one of (i) at least the portion of the plurality of devices or (ii) a database associated with the hardware controller, the database storing of the set of data collected by at least the portion of the plurality of devices, wherein the request includes a set of specific time periods associated with when the set of purported services were performed, receive, from the hardware controller via the communication module, the set of data collected by at least the portion of the plurality of devices, the set of data transmitted, to the hardware controller via the local communication network, from at least one of (i) at least the portion of the plurality of devices or (ii) the database associated with the hardware controller, the set of data indicating, for each of at least the portion of the plurality of devices, a set of activations and deactivations of the at least one sensor incorporated into the respective device, analyze, for each of at least the portion of the plurality of devices, the set of activations and deactivations of the at least one sensor incorporated into the respective device, based on analyzing the set of activations and deactivations, calculate a set of time periods during which each of at least the portion of the plurality of devices was activated, determine a set of actual services performed within the property including, for each of the set of time periods, comparing the respective time period to a requisite time period associated with a service performance, compare the set of purported services to the set of actual services, and after the comparing, cause an electronic device to display, in a user interface, a monetary amount of the set of purported services and a monetary amount of the set of actual services, wherein the user interface further displays, concurrently with the monetary amount of the set of purported services and the monetary amount of the set of actual services, (i) a selection for approving the insurance claim, (ii) a selection for denying the insurance claim, and (iii) a selection for further inquiring about the insurance claim.

“12. The system of claim 11, wherein to compare the set of purported services to the set of actual services, the processor is configured to: identify, from the insurance claim, the monetary amount of the set of purported services, calculate, based on the set of actual services, the monetary amount of the set of actual services, and compare the monetary amount of the set of purported services to the monetary amount of the set of actual services.

“13. The system of claim 12, wherein to compare the monetary amount of the set of purported services to the monetary amount of the set of actual services, the processor is configured to: determine that the monetary amount of the set of purported services differs from the monetary amount of the set of actual services by at least a threshold amount.

“14. The system of claim 11, wherein to compare the set of purported services to the set of actual services, the processor is configured to: identify at least one of the set of purported services that is not included in the set of actual services.

“15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to further cause the processor to process the insurance claim, including at least one of: approve the insurance claim, flag the insurance claim, deny the insurance claim, and contact the caregiver.

“16. The system of claim 11, wherein to compare the respective time period to the requisite time period associated with the service performance, the processor is configured to: determine that the respective time period at least meets the requisite time period associated with the service performance.

“17. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to further cause the processor to: determine, from the insurance claim, an additional portion of the set of purported services that are not verifiable.

“18. The system of claim 11, wherein to identify at least the portion of the plurality of devices that corresponds to at least the portion of the set of purported services, the processor is configured to: identify, based on a data record associated with the long-term care insurance policy, at least the portion of the plurality of devices that corresponds to at least the portion of the set of purported services.

“19. The system of claim 11, wherein the set of data includes motion detection data indicating presence information.

“20. The system of claim 11, wherein to compare the set of purported services to the set of actual services, the processor is configured to: determine a set of discrepancies between the set of purported services and the set of actual services.”

For more information, see this patent: Myers, Jeremy; Boyer, Brittany; Hunt, Dana; Turrentine, David; Ingrum, Larry J.; Olander, Erin; Blakney, Nicole M.; Williams, Aaron C. Systems And Methods For Analyzing Insurance Claims Associated With Long-Term Care Insurance. U.S. Patent Number 10,499,991, filed December 8, 2017, and published online on December 23, 2019. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=10,499,991.PN.&OS=PN/10,499,991RS=PN/10,499,991

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