Choosing between bronze, silver, gold, and platinum is the biggest decision you make during open enrollment. Here is what each tier means, who it fits, and how subsidies change the math for 2027.
Want a number for your situation? Try our free ACA subsidy calculator to estimate your 2027 premium tax credit in about 30 seconds.
Metal tiers describe how you and the insurer split costs, not the quality of care. Bronze plans pay about 60% of average costs, silver about 70%, gold about 80%, and platinum about 90%. Lower-premium tiers have higher deductibles, and higher-premium tiers have lower costs when you use care. The best tier depends on how much care you expect to use, your income, and whether you qualify for extra help.
| Tier | Insurer pays (avg.) | Monthly premium | Cost when you use care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | about 60% | Lowest | Highest |
| Silver | about 70% | Moderate | Moderate |
| Gold | about 80% | Higher | Lower |
| Platinum | about 90% | Highest | Lowest |
Every tier covers the same essential health benefits. The difference is cost sharing: deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. All tiers also have an out-of-pocket maximum, which for 2027 is set at $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family, subject to pending litigation over the underlying rules.
Bronze suits healthy people who rarely need care and want the lowest premium, or who want protection against a major event. Since 2026, bronze and catastrophic marketplace plans are eligible to be paired with a health savings account, which lets you save pre-tax dollars for medical costs. The tradeoff is a high deductible, so you pay most costs yourself until it is met.
Silver is the benchmark tier the subsidy is calculated from. It is also the only tier with cost-sharing reductions. If your household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, silver plans are upgraded so the plan pays about 73%, 87%, or 94% of costs, which can cut your deductible dramatically. For many moderate-income households, an upgraded silver plan beats gold on total cost.
Gold suits people who use care regularly, such as a chronic condition, ongoing prescriptions, or planned procedures. You pay more monthly but much less at the doctor. A common question is whether subsidies work on gold: they do. The premium tax credit can be applied to any metal tier, and you pay the difference if the plan costs more than the benchmark. See our subsidies guide.
Platinum has the lowest out-of-pocket costs and the highest premiums. It tends to make sense only for people with very high expected use. Platinum plans are less widely offered in Florida, so availability depends on your county.
Want a number for your situation? Try our free ACA subsidy calculator to estimate your 2027 premium tax credit in about 30 seconds.
They differ in how costs are shared. Bronze plans pay about 60% of average costs, silver about 70%, gold about 80%, and platinum about 90%. Lower tiers have lower premiums but higher deductibles; higher tiers have higher premiums but lower costs when you use care.
Silver costs less each month and is the only tier with cost-sharing reductions for incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level. Gold costs more monthly but pays more when you use care. The better choice depends on your expected care and income.
Yes. The premium tax credit can be applied to any metal tier. If the plan costs more than the benchmark Silver plan the credit is based on, you pay the difference.
Since 2026, bronze and catastrophic marketplace plans are treated as HSA-eligible, so you can pair them with a health savings account. Confirm eligibility for your specific plan.
For 2027 the out-of-pocket maximum is set at $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family, subject to pending litigation over the underlying rules.
We compare the true after-subsidy cost of every tier, free.
Get a Free Quote