Apparatus and method for rewarding consumers

Abstract

In order to reward a consumer for trying or learning about a product, the customer is given a unique identification number, preferably an unvalidated ATM readable card, and instructions for completing a test or survey by telephone or on the Internet. Upon successful completion of the test by the consumer, the identification number is validated so that the consumer may withdraw a cash reward from a temporary bank account funded when the identification number is validated via an ATM. Where the consumer is the patient of a physician, the patient may receive the number and card from the physician along with a prescription for redemption at a pharmacy whereat the pharmacy dispenses a supply of the drug to the patient and is paid by the manufacturer of the drug through the former's insurance payment processing system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing program code, which when executed, enables a consumer to obtain a monetary reward in a temporary medical insurance account through the use of a rewards card containing an identifier unique to said consumer, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:
 program code for storing in machine readable form in an identifier storage means a unique consumer identifier and an indication of whether said consumer qualifies for said reward, said indication initially being that said consumer does not qualify for said reward,   program code for storing a questionnaire in machine readable form in a questionnaire means,   program code for storing data indicative of an acceptable response to said questionnaire in machine readable form in a response criteria storage means,   program code for posing questions to said consumer in audio or visual form and for receiving from said consumer responses thereto,   program code for making a comparison between said data indicative of an acceptable response to said questionnaire and said consumer responses and for causing said identifier storage means to indicate that said consumer associated with said identifier qualifies for said reward as a function of said comparison,   program code for funding said temporary medical insurance account corresponding to said identifier only when the consumer associated with said identifier qualifies for said reward, and   program code for interpreting the identification number on said rewards card and authorizing dispensation of a reward to said consumer from said temporary account.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , further comprising program code for enabling said consumer to answer said questions by the use of a numeric keypad to generate tones indicative of said answer. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , further comprising program code for generating a score as a function of the number of correct answers given to said questions.