ACA Marketplace plans are sorted into four "metal tiers" based on the percentage of healthcare costs the plan pays vs. the percentage you pay. All metal tiers cover the same essential health benefits — the only difference is how costs are split.
Bronze — Plan pays ~60%, you pay ~40%.
- Lowest monthly premium
- Highest deductible (often $7,000+ before plan starts paying for non-preventive services)
- Highest out-of-pocket maximum (up to $9,200 in 2026 for a single)
- Best for: healthy people who rarely use care and want catastrophic protection only
- Many Bronze plans are HSA-eligible (let you save tax-free for medical expenses)
Silver — Plan pays ~70%, you pay ~30%.
- Mid-tier premium and deductible
- The benchmark for subsidy calculations
- Major bonus: if your income is under 250% of FPL, Silver also gets you Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR) — your deductible and copays drop dramatically:
- Under 150% FPL: deductible can be $0, OOP max ~$3,300
- 150–200% FPL: deductible ~$300, OOP max ~$3,300
- 200–250% FPL: deductible ~$2,000, OOP max ~$7,000
- Best for: people under 250% FPL (CSR makes Silver way better than Bronze on total cost)
Gold — Plan pays ~80%, you pay ~20%.
- Higher monthly premium than Silver
- Lower deductible (often $1,000–$2,500)
- Lower copays (e.g., $20 PCP, $40 specialist instead of Silver's $30/$60)
- Lower OOP max (often $7,500)
- Best for: people with predictable ongoing healthcare needs (chronic conditions, regular prescriptions, planned surgeries) who'd otherwise hit Silver's higher deductible
Platinum — Plan pays ~90%, you pay ~10%.
- Highest premium
- Lowest deductible (often $0–$500)
- Lowest copays
- Lowest OOP max
- Limited availability — not all carriers offer Platinum; rare in some markets
- Best for: people with significant ongoing health needs (cancer treatment, major chronic conditions) who'd hit any deductible early in the year
Catastrophic plans (separate, not metal-tier):
- Available only to people under 30 OR who qualify for a hardship exemption
- Very low premium, very high deductible (~$9,000)
- Doesn't qualify for premium subsidies
- Covers 3 PCP visits and preventive services without deductible; everything else only after the catastrophic deductible is met
The math: pick by total annual cost, not just premium:
Don't pick by premium alone. Add expected annual healthcare use:
- Annual cost = (premium × 12) + expected deductible spending + expected copays
Example, single 35-year-old earning $35,000 (224% FPL) in a metro area:
- Bronze: $0/mo premium, $7,500 deductible → if you use $3,000 of care: $3,000 total
- CSR Silver: $80/mo premium ($960/yr), $1,500 deductible → if you use $3,000 of care: $960 + $1,500 + small copays ≈ $2,800 total — wins
- Gold: $230/mo premium ($2,760/yr), $1,500 deductible → if you use $3,000 of care: $2,760 + $1,500 + small copays ≈ $4,500 total
For low-utilization, Bronze can win. For moderate-to-high utilization with CSR eligibility, Silver almost always wins. Gold/Platinum win only at high utilization.
What to do next: [Use our subsidy calculator](/aca/subsidy-calculator/) to see your subsidy, then call (866) 534-1886 — we calculate total annual cost on every plan based on your specific medications, doctor visits, and any planned procedures. Free.