Glossary
Metal Tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum)
The four standard ACA Marketplace plan categories sorted by how much of your medical costs the plan pays on average. Bronze pays about 60%, Silver 70%, Gold 80%, and Platinum 90%, with premiums rising as the tier goes up.
Last updated: May 19, 2026
The metal tiers are the four standard categories used to sort ACA Marketplace plans by how much of your medical costs the plan pays on average. The technical name is actuarial value (AV): Bronze covers about 60%, Silver 70%, Gold 80%, and Platinum 90% of expected costs for a typical population. You pay the rest through your deductible, copays, and coinsurance.
How the tiers compare
Premium and out-of-pocket costs move in opposite directions as you go up the metal ladder:
- Bronze (~60% AV): lowest monthly premium, highest deductible (often $7,000+). Good for people who rarely use care and want catastrophic protection.
- Silver (~70% AV): middle premium, middle deductible. The most important tier because Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR) only apply to Silver plans.
- Gold (~80% AV): higher premium, lower deductible. Good for people who use care regularly and want predictable costs.
- Platinum (~90% AV): highest premium, lowest deductible. Rare on the Marketplace, expensive, and only worth it for people with very heavy medical use.
Why Silver is special
If your income is under 250% of the federal poverty level, picking a Silver plan unlocks CSR benefits that raise the effective AV of the plan:
- 200%–250% FPL: Silver becomes 73% AV
- 150%–200% FPL: Silver becomes 87% AV
- 100%–150% FPL: Silver becomes 94% AV (close to Platinum-level coverage at Silver prices)
CSR only applies to Silver. If you qualify and pick Bronze, you give up the enhanced benefit.
Example
A family of four in Florida with household income of $50,000 (about 165% FPL for 2026):
- Bronze plan: premium $0/month after APTC, deductible $8,200, copays high
- Silver plan with CSR 87%: premium $35/month after APTC, deductible $750, copays low
- The Silver plan costs more in premium but pays much more when the family actually uses care
For this family, Silver with CSR is almost always the right pick. For a healthy single adult above 250% FPL, Bronze may be the better deal.
Catastrophic plans (separate category)
Catastrophic plans sit outside the metal tiers. They are only available to people under 30 or those with a hardship/affordability exemption. Premiums are very low, deductibles match the federal out-of-pocket maximum ($9,200 for 2026), and APTC cannot be applied. They are an emergency-only safety net, not full coverage. See our catastrophic plans guide for the full breakdown.
How to choose your tier
Ask yourself two questions:
- How often do I use medical care? Heavy users want Gold or Platinum, light users want Bronze.
- Is my income under 250% FPL? If yes, Silver is almost always the right pick because of CSR.
Related terms
Run the calculator to see which tier fits your income and household.