Metal Tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum)

Definition current for the 2026 plan year · Last reviewed July 2026

Marketplace plans come in four metals defined by actuarial value — the share of an average population's medical costs the plan pays: bronze ~60%, silver ~70%, gold ~80%, platinum ~90%. Lower metal = lower premium, higher deductible; the metals say nothing about network quality or which doctors you get.

Three 2026-specific facts change the usual advice. First, under 250% of FPL, cost-sharing reductions secretly upgrade silver plans — making silver mandatory-good at those incomes. Second, subsidies are pegged to the silver benchmark but spend anywhere, which sometimes makes bronze free after credit. Third, a pricing quirk (CSR costs are loaded onto silver premiums) means gold sometimes costs less than silver for full-price shoppers — always quote both.

The decision framework with real numbers: Bronze vs Silver in 2026.