-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- [ To: cypherpunks ## Date: 11/05/97 ## Subject: Re: Protocols for Insurance to Maintain Privacy ]
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 23:05:16 -0700 From: Tim May <tcmay@got.net> Subject: Re: Protocols for Insurance to Maintain Privacy
What an insurance card is really a *line of credit*. Or a *proof of payment*. The admitting hospital knows they'll at least be reimbursed for the initial visit and emergency treatment.
Perhaps there's a business idea for some enterprising Cypherpunk. A prepaid hospital card, good for a few days' worth of treatment (e.g., $5000), but only at the better rates. This could even be done with Chaumian privacy-protecting methods. There's an idea.
This seems straightforward enough in principle. It's just like a prepaid credit card, or even a normal credit card, right? I mean, what it says on the card is probably different, but the financial arrangements are pretty-much the same. I suspect it would be easier to implement this (at least in the US) as an extra function on a credit card, rather than as a new kind of insurance, since there are so many odd insurance regulations out there. Currently, lots of credit cards offer special benefits like automatic insurance on rental cars--this seems like a close variation on the same idea.
--Tim May
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