Bronze vs. Silver vs. Gold: premiums, deductibles and a bad year (2026)
Nationally, the typical marketplace plan for one 40-year-old before tax credits costs $548 a month at Bronze, $715 at Silver and $746 at Gold. Higher levels cost more each month and less when you get care.
What the metal levels mean
The categories have nothing to do with the quality of care. They describe the split of costs for covered services: on average the plan pays about 60% at Bronze, 70% at Silver, 80% at Gold and 90% at Platinum, and you pay the rest. Catastrophic plans are only for people under 30 or with a hardship or affordability exemption. If your income qualifies for extra savings and you choose Silver, the plan pays more (73–96%) (HealthCare.gov: Health plan categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum).
Typical costs in the U.S., 2026
| Metal | Plan pays / you pay | Typical monthly | Typical yearly premium | Typical deductible | Typical out-of-pocket max | Typical bad year* | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% / 40% | $548 | $6,577 | $7,500 | $10,000 | $16,575 | 2,087 |
| Silver | 70% / 30% (73–96% with extra savings) | $715 | $8,579 | $5,950 | $8,900 | $17,746 | 2,259 |
| Gold | 80% / 20% | $746 | $8,952 | $1,640 | $8,200 | $16,906 | 1,885 |
| Platinum | 90% / 10% | $1,413 | $16,955 | $0 | $4,000 | $20,948 | 167 |
| Catastrophic | Under 30 or hardship exemption only | $415 | $4,974 | $10,600 | $10,600 | $15,574 | 187 |
Typical = median across 6,585 plans (CMS public use files (plan year prices), as processed on our methodology page). * Bad year = 12 months of premium + the in-network out-of-pocket maximum (median across plans), the most you would pay for covered in-network care (HealthCare.gov glossary: Out-of-pocket maximum/limit).
The trade-off in dollars
Going from the typical Bronze to the typical Gold plan adds $2,375 a year in premiums (12 × ($746 − $548)) and lowers the typical deductible by $5,860 ($7,500 → $1,640). In a bad year the typical totals are $16,575 at Bronze and $16,906 at Gold.
Prices differ a lot by county. Pick your state and county to see every plan, then use + Compare to put plans side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Bronze, Silver and Gold?
How costs are split when you get care. On average the plan pays about 60% (Bronze), 70% (Silver), 80% (Gold) or 90% (Platinum) of covered costs, and you pay the rest (HealthCare.gov). The level says nothing about the quality of care. Higher levels cost more each month and less when you use care.
Why compare insurers on Silver?
Every marketplace insurer must offer Silver and Gold plans, while Bronze is optional, so Silver gives the fairest like-for-like comparison. Silver is also the only level with extra savings (cost-sharing reductions) if your income qualifies (HealthCare.gov).
Is Gold worth the higher premium?
It depends on how much care you expect. Nationally the typical Gold plan costs $2,375 more a year in premiums than the typical Bronze plan, and its typical deductible is $5,860 lower. If you expect to use more care than that difference, the higher level can cost less overall; if you rarely use care, the lower premium usually wins. Compare the bad-year column too.