Californians Are the Savviest ACA Exchange Consumers

Californians are among the best at signing up for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges, according to an online calculator called Putting Patients First, the Orlando Business Journal reports.

Details of Calculator

The Putting Patients First calculator was created by the National Health Council.

Using the tool, individuals can calculate their estimated health care costs for various 2015 health plans based on their personal health usage information, such as their:

• Hospital stays and surgeries;
• Physician/specialist visits; and
• Prescription drugs.

Rankings were determined by examining which states had the savviest insurance exchange consumers between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2014 (Barth, Orlando Business Journal, 1/7).

Findings

California residents were found to be the best at understanding and signing up for coverage through the ACA's insurance exchanges, according to Putting Patients First.

After California, the savviest exchange consumers were in:

• Texas;
• Florida;
• New York; and
• Virginia (NHC release, 1/6).