Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum make up the metal tiers. Bronze plans have the lowest premium but the highest prices for care. On the other end of the spectrum, Platinum plans have the highest premiums, but the lowest care prices.
Catastrophic plans are another type of coverage. These plans generally have the the lowest premiums and extremely high costs. The name comes from the basic idea that, outside of catastrophe, you bear much of the cost of care.
It’s worth noting your quality of care is no different with different metal tiers! All the plans we offer are ACA-compliant. That means they cover essential health benefits like preventive care, and are available even to folks with pre-existing conditions.
Which metal tier is right for me?
Platinum or Gold might be the best fit if you frequently need medical care and prescriptions, and can afford the higher premiums.
Silver's pricing sits in the middle for both the premium and costs for care. However, Silver plans can sometimes save you even more money than Bronze plans. Silver tier plans allow you to qualify for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), which can help save on other out-of-pocket expenses like co-pays and co-insurance.
Bronze plans can be a great option if you want the most affordable premiums, and don't expect to need much care.
The Break Down
Platinum: Has the highest premium but the lowest cost when you need care. These plans are estimated to cover ~90% of the cost of care.
Gold: Has a high premium but a low cost when you need care. These plans are estimated to cover ~80% of the cost of care.
Silver: Has a mid-range premium and mid-range cost when you need care. These plans are estimated to cover ~70% of the cost of care.
If you're eligible for Cost Sharing Reductions, which help lower your out-of-pocket costs, they are only available if you enroll in a Silver plan.
Bronze: Has a low premium but a high cost when you need care. These plans are estimated to cover ~60% of the cost of care.
Catastrophic: Catastrophic plans are very high deductible plans available to people under 30, or with certain exemptions. They generally have cheap monthly premiums, but will only cover you in extreme scenarios.
Catastrophic plans are generally not eligible for savings.