Bronze, silver or gold: how to choose
The metal level tells you how you and the plan split the bills. It has nothing to do with the quality of care.
Last checked October 14, 2026 · Written by licensed advisors · Sources are numbered and listed under Notes and sources
The short answer
Every Marketplace plan has a metal level. Bronze has the lowest monthly premium and the highest costs when you get care. Gold is the reverse. Silver sits in the middle. Doctors, hospitals and the quality of care don’t depend on the metal; they depend on the plan’s network.1
How each level splits the costs
On average across a group of members, this is the share of covered costs each level pays. Your own split depends on how much care you use.1
| Level | Plan pays (average) | You pay (average) |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | 40% |
| Silver | 70% | 30% |
| Gold | 80% | 20% |
| Platinum | 90% | 10% |
Who each one fits
Bronze fits people who rarely see a doctor and want the lowest monthly bill, as protection against a big event. Pairing it with hospital indemnity or accident coverage can soften the deductible.
Silver fits most people with a tax credit. Between 1 and 2.5 times the poverty level, silver plans also come with extra savings that cut the deductible and copays. For most people, only silver has them.
Gold fits people who expect regular care, take ongoing prescriptions or are planning a surgery or a baby, and would rather pay more each month and less at the doctor.2
- Rarely see a doctor
- Want the lowest monthly bill
- Most people with a tax credit
- Extra savings between 1 and 2.5× the poverty level
- Expect regular care or ongoing prescriptions
- Planning a surgery or a baby
One more option: catastrophic plans
If you are under 30, or qualify for a hardship exemption, you can buy a catastrophic plan. It has a very high deductible and covers little before it, but includes preventive care and a few primary care visits. The tax credit can’t be used for it.34
What to do: Before you pick a level, list the doctors you want to keep and your prescriptions. We check every plan’s network and drug list with you.
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Obamacare Hotline and/or Medicare Po Polsku are private companies not affiliated with any local, state, or federal government agency. This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice.