Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum: ACA metal tiers explained

Every ACA Marketplace plan is sorted into a metal level. The level does not describe the quality of care. It describes how you and the plan share costs.

The four levels

• Bronze: the lowest monthly premium and the highest costs when you get care. On average the plan pays about 60% of covered costs.
• Silver: a middle ground, with the plan paying about 70%. Silver is also the only level that can come with extra cost-sharing reductions for people who qualify.
• Gold: a higher premium and lower costs at the doctor, with the plan paying about 80%.
• Platinum: the highest premium and the lowest out-of-pocket costs, about 90%. Not every area offers Platinum plans.

If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, a Silver plan can have a much lower deductible than its label suggests. Ask a licensed agent to compare the actual numbers.

How to choose

If you rarely see a doctor, a lower premium may matter most. If you expect regular visits, prescriptions or a planned procedure, paying more each month for lower costs at the point of care can work out cheaper over the year. Look at the deductible and the out-of-pocket maximum, not only the monthly price.

What about catastrophic plans?

Catastrophic plans have low premiums and very high deductibles. They are generally available to people under 30 or those who qualify for a hardship exemption, and they cannot be combined with premium tax credits.