CDI announces new health cost comparison tool for consumers

California Department of Insurance (CDI) officials have made an announcement regarding a new website, which will help consumers comparison-shop for health insurance. The CDI, UC-San Francisco and Consumer Reports, which is a not-for-profit magazine that carries out consumer product testing and research, teamed up to come up with the website.

According to CDI officials, the project has been federally funded through the Affordable Care Act. CDI officials said in a statement that the website will let Californians access and compare costs and quality of health care and that will help them make informed decisions regarding treatment options.

As per the statement, "The online tool provides important information for consumers about health care prices for more than 100 medical procedures and conditions and provides information about the quality of medical care so consumers can make knowledgeable choices about where to seek care".

According to CDI officials, the website is "the first of its kind" in the state. However, the Covered California health benefit exchange is already having a health insurance comparison tool on its website.

On Monday, Consumer Reports planned a media display of the new site. The CDI statement said that the website provides health care price information and helps consumers access important price and quality data on an easy-to-use website.

A $3.9 million federal grant has been given for the California Healthcare Compare project through the Affordable Care Act in an association with Consumer Reports, the Department of Insurance and University of California health care experts from Davis and San Francisco.