ACA Metal Levels Explained: Bronze to Platinum

On the ACA Marketplace, every plan is sorted into a metal level: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. The level tells you how the plan splits the cost of care with you, on average. HealthCare.gov puts the plan's share at about 60 percent for Bronze, 70 percent for Silver, 80 percent for Gold and 90 percent for Platinum. Lower levels have lower monthly premiums but you pay more when you use care. Higher levels cost more each month but less when you see a doctor. HealthCare.gov is clear that the categories have nothing to do with the quality of care. Arizona uses HealthCare.gov as its Marketplace, so these are the levels you will see when you shop for 2027 coverage.

The four metal levels at a glance

The percentages below are averages for a standard population, not a promise about any one person's bills. Your share depends on the care you use and how your plan sets its deductible, copays and coinsurance.

Key terms in plain English

• Premium: what you pay every month to keep the plan, whether or not you use care.
• Deductible: what you pay for covered care before the plan starts sharing costs. Many preventive services are covered before the deductible.
• Copay and coinsurance: your share after the deductible, either a set dollar amount (copay) or a percentage (coinsurance).
• Out-of-pocket maximum: the most you pay for covered in-network care in a plan year. After you reach it, the plan pays 100 percent of covered in-network care for the rest of the year.

The out-of-pocket maximum is your safety net

Every Marketplace plan has an out-of-pocket maximum, whatever its metal level. HealthCare.gov lists the federal ceiling for 2026 plans as $10,600 for an individual and $21,200 for a family, and for 2027 plans as $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family. Those are ceilings. Many plans set a lower limit, and higher metal levels often do.

Monthly premiums do not count toward the out-of-pocket maximum. When you compare plans, look at the premium for a year plus the out-of-pocket maximum. That is the worst case for in-network care, and it is often a more useful number than the deductible alone.

Silver plans and extra savings

Silver is the only level with built-in extra savings for lower incomes. HealthCare.gov calls these extra savings on out-of-pocket costs, also known as cost-sharing reductions, and says you must pick a Silver plan to get them. With them, a Silver plan's share of costs rises from about 70 percent to between 73 and 96 percent, depending on how much savings you qualify for, so your deductible and copays drop.

CMS sets the income limit for these savings at 250 percent of the federal poverty level. For 2027 coverage, the 2026 HHS poverty guideline for one person is $15,960, so 250 percent is $39,900. If your income is near or below that, compare Silver plans carefully before choosing Bronze for a lower premium. HealthCare.gov will show you the reduced deductible on eligible Silver plans when you apply.

How premium tax credits fit in

Premium tax credits lower your monthly premium, and they are figured from a benchmark: the second lowest cost Silver plan in your area. HealthCare.gov says you need that plan's premium to work out your final credit. The credit amount is the same whichever metal level you choose, so a lower premium plan can cost very little after the credit, while a Gold plan costs the difference.

That is why the same family can see very different prices from a neighbor. The credit depends on household income and household size, and the benchmark depends on where you live and your ages. Our ACA subsidy calculator gives a quick estimate, and our guide to ACA subsidies explains the 2026 and 2027 rules.

Catastrophic plans: the fifth option

If they are available where you live, Catastrophic plans are a fifth category on HealthCare.gov. You can buy one if you are under 30, or if you qualify for a hardship or affordability exemption. They have low premiums and very high deductibles, but they still cover the same essential health benefits as other Marketplace plans, cover preventive services at no cost, and cover at least 3 primary care visits a year before you meet the deductible.

HealthCare.gov notes that if you qualify for a premium tax credit, a Bronze or Silver plan may be a better value than a Catastrophic plan, so compare the after-credit prices before you decide.

Health savings accounts and Bronze plans

HealthCare.gov says all Bronze and Catastrophic plans work with health savings accounts, and some plans in other categories do too. A health savings account lets you set money aside with tax advantages to pay for medical costs. If you choose a Bronze plan to keep premiums low, pairing it with an HSA can help you plan for the higher deductible. Our HSA tax savings calculator and our health savings account page explain how.

How to choose a metal level

• Start with your doctors and prescriptions. A plan only helps if your providers are in its network and your drugs are on its formulary. Check both on HealthCare.gov or ask us to check.
• Estimate a normal year and a bad year. Add up 12 months of premium plus what you expect to spend, then compare with 12 months of premium plus the out-of-pocket maximum.
• If your income is up to 250 percent of the poverty level, look hard at Silver.
• If you are healthy, rarely see a doctor and want an HSA, Bronze is often worth a look.
• If you expect surgery, a pregnancy or ongoing treatment, a Gold plan can cost less overall even with the higher premium.
• Mark the dates. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and you choose by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.

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The bottom line

The metal level is a trade-off between what you pay each month and what you pay when you need care, not a grade for quality. Look at the total yearly cost in a normal year and a bad year, check your doctors and drugs, and give Silver a close look if your income may qualify for extra savings. If you would like a second set of eyes, we can compare Bronze, Silver and Gold side by side for your household on HealthCare.gov.