> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ideonapi.gitbook.io/quote-and-select/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ideonapi.gitbook.io/quote-and-select/additional-information-and-workflows/bulk-exports-in-the-api/zip-counties.md).

# Zip Counties

Export zip-county datasets through Ideon's API

Creating a bulk export with a `type` of *zip\_counties* generates a file containing all national zip-counties and their associated metadata. The zip-counties returned reflect the current, valid zip-counties supported by Ideon's API and datasets. All national zip-counties will always be included; `filters` parameters are ignored for zip-county exports. 

{% code title="POST /bulk\_exports" %}

```json
{ 
    "type": "zip_counties"
}
```

{% endcode %}

Each zip-county is represented as its own line in the zip-counties export file. The `rating_area_individual` and `rating_area_small_group` keys represent the medical rating areas for each market, as defined by [CMS](https://www.cms.gov/cciio/programs-and-initiatives/health-insurance-market-reforms/state-gra). Typically these will be the same for both markets; in some edge cases, they can differ.

{% code title="Sample Zip-County JSON Line" %}

```json
{
    "id": 260333,
    "state_code": "AK",
    "zip_code": "99553",
    "county_fips_code": "02013",
    "county_canonical_name": "Aleutians East Borough",
    "rating_area_individual": "1",
    "rating_area_small_group": "1"
}
```

{% endcode %}

## Caching Zip Counties

The bulk export always returns the complete set of available plans given the filter parameters. Given this, processes to generate bulk exports to cache zip-counties should always fully replace data for any plans returned in previous files.

Zip-counties are typically updated on a quarterly basis; processes to cache zip-county data should follow the same cadence.