Short answer: In the ACA-regulated individual and small-group markets, plans are grouped into metal tiers by “actuarial value”, the average share of covered costs the plan pays: Bronze ~60%, Silver ~70%, Gold ~80%, Platinum ~90%. A lower tier means lower premiums but higher cost-sharing when you use care.
Metal tiers are a way to compare plans by how generously they cover costs, using a measure called actuarial value (AV), the percentage of total covered medical costs the plan is expected to pay for a standard population.
- Bronze (~60% AV): lowest premiums, highest deductibles and cost-sharing. Good for people who want catastrophic protection at a low monthly cost.
- Silver (~70% AV): moderate premiums and cost-sharing. Silver is special on the Marketplace because cost-sharing reduction (CSR) subsidies, which lower deductibles and copays for lower-income enrollees, are only available on Silver plans.
- Gold (~80% AV): higher premiums, lower cost-sharing.
- Platinum (~90% AV): highest premiums, lowest cost-sharing.
There are also catastrophic plans, available mainly to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, with very low premiums and very high deductibles. One 2026 note: under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, individual-market Bronze and catastrophic plans are now treated as HSA-eligible.
Sources
- ACA; 45 CFR §156.140 (levels of coverage / actuarial value).
- CMS, HealthCare.gov (metal categories). OBBBA Bronze/catastrophic HSA eligibility: IRS Notice 2026-05.
Content history
Originally published: June 16, 2026
Last reviewed: June 16, 2026