Health Insurance
Metal Tier (Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum)
Metal tiers signal how a plan splits costs with you: higher tiers mean higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs when you need care.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology
Definition
The ACA organizes marketplace health plans into four metal tiers — Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum — based on actuarial value (AV), which represents the percentage of covered medical costs the plan pays on average. Bronze plans have an AV of approximately 60% (you pay roughly 40%); Silver plans target 70% AV; Gold plans target 80% AV; and Platinum plans target 90% AV. Higher metal tiers carry higher monthly premiums but lower deductibles and cost-sharing when you receive care. Choosing the right tier depends on your expected healthcare utilization: healthy people who rarely see doctors may save money overall in a Bronze plan, while people managing chronic conditions may pay less out-of-pocket in a Gold or Platinum plan despite higher premiums. Silver plans are the only tier that delivers Cost-Sharing Reductions for eligible low-income enrollees, and they serve as the benchmark for calculating Premium Tax Credits. Catastrophic plans form a fifth informal tier available only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption.
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Cover Forge USA Editorial Team
Editorial Lead
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed 2026-06-14
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