Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums and the highest costs when you get care, gold plans are the reverse, and silver sits in the middle. The quick rule for 2027 Marketplace coverage: if your income is low enough to qualify for cost-sharing reductions (up to 250% of the poverty level, about $39,900 for a single person), silver is almost always the best value. If you rarely see a doctor, bronze often wins. If you expect regular care, a planned surgery or ongoing prescriptions, gold frequently costs less over the full year.
The 2027 decision matters more than usual. The enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, so many shoppers are seeing much higher net premiums, and people earning over 400% of the poverty level get no subsidy at all. Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs from November 1 to December 15, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Below is how the tiers work, how subsidies change the comparison, and three worked examples.
What the metal tiers mean
The metal level describes how costs are split between you and the plan on average, not the quality of care or the doctors in the network. A plan’s actuarial value is the share of a typical population’s covered costs the plan pays.
| Tier | Plan pays on average | You pay on average | Premium | Usually fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | About 60% | About 40% | Lowest | Healthy people who want protection from big bills; HSA savers |
| Silver | About 70% | About 30% | Middle | Anyone eligible for cost-sharing reductions; moderate users |
| Silver with CSR (income up to 250% FPL) | 73%, 87% or 94% | 27%, 13% or 6% | Same as silver | Lower and moderate incomes |
| Gold | About 80% | About 20% | Higher | Regular doctor visits, prescriptions, planned procedures |
| Platinum | About 90% | About 10% | Highest | Heavy, predictable care; not sold in every state |
| Catastrophic | Varies (very high deductible) | Most costs until the out-of-pocket max | Low | Under 30 or with a hardship exemption |
Every tier, including bronze, covers the same essential health benefits and the same free preventive care, such as annual checkups and recommended screenings. Every plan also has an out-of-pocket maximum, the most you pay for covered in-network care in a year. For 2027 the federal cap is $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family, up from $10,600 and $21,200 in 2026. Many plans set their own limit lower.
How subsidies change the comparison
Premium tax credits are calculated from the second-lowest-cost silver plan in your area, called the benchmark. The government sets how much of your income you are expected to pay toward that benchmark plan, and the credit covers the rest. You can apply the same dollar credit to any metal tier.
That creates two effects. First, bronze plans can become very cheap, sometimes close to $0 a month, because a credit sized for silver is applied to a cheaper plan. Second, in many areas some gold plans are priced close to, or even below, silver plans after the credit, because insurers load extra cost into silver premiums. Always compare the price you actually pay, not the sticker price.
For 2027 coverage, eligibility is based on the 2026 poverty guidelines. 100% of the poverty level is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four; 400% is $63,840 and $132,000. Above 400%, no premium tax credit is available in 2027.
Cost-sharing reductions: the silver-only discount
If your household income is between 100% and 250% of the poverty level (138% to 250% in states that expanded Medicaid), you can get cost-sharing reductions, but only on a silver plan. They lower deductibles, copays and the out-of-pocket maximum:
- Income 100% to 150% of the poverty level: the silver plan works like it pays 94% of costs.
- 150% to 200%: 87%, which is better than a typical gold plan.
- 200% to 250%: 73%, a modest improvement over standard silver.
Choosing bronze to save on premiums means giving up those reductions. For someone at 160% of the poverty level, that can mean trading a deductible of a few hundred dollars for one of several thousand.
Three worked examples
Premiums below are illustrative and rounded. Your actual prices depend on age, ZIP code, household size and tobacco use, and you will see exact numbers on HealthCare.gov or your state’s marketplace.
Example: Rosa, 45, is single and expects to earn $30,000 in 2027, about 188% of the poverty level. Her expected contribution is roughly 6% of income for the benchmark silver plan. Suppose the benchmark costs $600 a month; her credit might be around $440, leaving her about $160 a month for silver. A bronze plan listed at $480 would cost her about $40. Because of her income, her silver plan qualifies for the 87% cost-sharing level, with a much lower deductible. She takes blood pressure medication and sees her doctor quarterly, so the extra $120 a month for silver is likely to be repaid in lower copays and a far smaller deductible.
Example: Ben, 29, is single and earns $68,000, above 400% of the poverty level, so he gets no premium tax credit. He sees a doctor about once a year. A bronze plan at $340 a month has a $7,500 deductible; a gold plan at $470 has a $1,500 deductible. Gold costs $1,560 more a year in premiums. If Ben has a typical healthy year, bronze saves him money. Gold would come out ahead only if his covered costs topped roughly $3,000 to $4,000 in a year, depending on the gold plan’s coinsurance. He picks an HSA-eligible bronze plan and puts the premium savings into a health savings account.
Example: The Nguyens, a family of four earning $95,000 (about 288% of the poverty level), know one child needs ear tube surgery in the spring and the other has monthly allergy prescriptions. After subsidies, a gold plan costs them $95 more a month than silver ($1,140 a year), but its family deductible is about $5,000 lower and copays are smaller. With a planned surgery certain to hit the deductible, gold is the better bet.
How to choose your tier step by step
- Estimate your 2027 household income as accurately as you can, since it sets both your subsidy and any cost-sharing reductions.
- List the care you expect next year: doctor visits, specialists, prescriptions, therapy, a pregnancy or planned procedures.
- Check whether your income falls in the cost-sharing reduction range. If it is under 200% of the poverty level, start with silver plans.
- Filter plans to those that include your doctors, hospitals and drugs. A cheaper plan that excludes your doctor is not cheaper for you.
- For your top two or three plans, add up 12 months of premiums plus your likely out-of-pocket costs for the care on your list.
- Run a bad-year test too: premiums plus the out-of-pocket maximum. That is the most you could spend on covered care.
- Pick the plan with the best combination of expected cost and a worst case you can manage, and enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage.
Bronze plans and HSAs in 2026 and 2027
Starting in 2026, federal law treats bronze and catastrophic Marketplace plans as compatible with health savings accounts, even if the plan’s design would not otherwise qualify as a high-deductible health plan. That makes bronze more attractive for healthy people with some extra cash: HSA contributions are tax deductible, grow tax free, and come out tax free for qualified medical costs. Confirm with the plan and your tax preparer before contributing, since rules for individual situations vary.
Common questions
Is a silver or gold plan better?
It depends on income and expected care. If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, silver is usually better because those discounts apply only to silver. If you do not, gold tends to be better when you expect regular care or a planned procedure, and silver or bronze when you expect little care.
Do bronze plans cover doctor visits before the deductible?
Preventive care is covered at no cost on every plan. Some bronze plans also cover a few primary care visits or generic drugs with a copay before the deductible, but many do not. Check each plan’s summary of benefits and coverage.
Do the metal tiers have different doctors?
The tier does not determine the network. Each insurer builds its own network for each plan, so a bronze and a gold plan from the same company can have different doctors. Always check the provider directory for the specific plan.
Can I switch metal tiers during the year?
Usually only during open enrollment or a special enrollment period after a qualifying life event. Some special enrollment rules limit which tier you can move to, so plan for the full year when you choose.
What happens if my income changes after I enroll?
Report the change to the marketplace promptly. Your credit is based on an estimate, so if your income rises you may have to repay some of the advance credit when you file taxes, and if it falls you may qualify for more help or cost-sharing reductions.
Before you enroll
- Have a realistic 2027 income estimate for everyone in your tax household.
- List your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions, and check them in each plan.
- Compare plans by total yearly cost, not premium alone.
- Look at silver first if your income is at or below 250% of the poverty level.
- Note the deadline: December 15, 2026, on HealthCare.gov for January 1 coverage; some state marketplaces run later.
- Review your plan even if you are auto-renewed, since prices and networks change each year.
Editorial note: This article is general information, not insurance, tax or medical advice. Figures were checked as of November 2026 and examples are illustrative; confirm plan prices, subsidies and deadlines on HealthCare.gov or your state marketplace.