CoveragePath answer · Updated 2026-10-05
ACA metal levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum
Metal levels set how the plan and you split costs. They do not rate doctors, hospitals or quality.
Quick answer
Metal levels describe how costs are shared on average: bronze plans pay about 60% of costs, silver 70%, gold 80% and platinum 90%. Silver plans bought with extra savings pay 73% to 96%. The levels say nothing about quality of care, and a lower premium usually means a higher deductible.
Who pays what, on average
| Level | Plan pays (average) | You pay (average) | Deductible tendency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | 40% | High |
| Silver | 70% | 30% | Moderate |
| Silver with extra savings | 73% to 96% | 6% to 27% | Lower, based on income |
| Gold | 80% | 20% | Low |
| Platinum | 90% | 10% | Low |
Worked example: $5,000 of covered care in a year
These percentages are averages across a typical group of people, not a prediction for your bills, but they make the trade-off concrete. If a year of covered care totaled $5,000 and each plan paid exactly its average share, you would pay about $2,000 on bronze, $1,500 on silver, $1,000 on gold and $500 on platinum. The premium moves the other way: the plan that leaves you the smallest bill usually charges the highest monthly premium. Compare that pattern with your own expected care before choosing on premium alone.
Two things that change the math
- Cost-sharing reductions. Households that qualify for extra savings get them only by enrolling in a silver plan. That is why a silver plan can beat a gold plan for a lower-income household.
- Catastrophic plans. A fifth category exists for people under 30 or those who qualify for a hardship or affordability exemption.
Sources
CoveragePath is an independent educational resource, not HealthCare.gov and not a Marketplace eligibility determination.
Build the full Marketplace picture
This answer covers one part of an ACA decision. Use the ACA Marketplace guide for the broader path through eligibility, savings, enrollment timing and plan comparison.