How to pick a health insurance plan

Health plan categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum

Marketplace plans are put into 4 categories (or "metal levels"): Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Catastrophic plans are a 5th category available to people under 30 and some people with limited incomes.

The categories have nothing to do with the quality of care you get in a plan. Generally, the difference between categories is based on the plan's share and your share of costs for covered services. If you qualify for extra savings (based on your income) and enroll in a Silver plan, the plan pays more and you pay less. Learn more about extra savings.

Cost estimates when you get care

(Depends how much savings you qualify for)

How do I pick a plan category?

When you shop for a Marketplace plan, think about:

The amount you pay for your health insurance every month. In addition to your premium, you usually have to pay other costs for your health care, including a deductible, copayments, and coinsurance. If you have a Marketplace health plan, you may be able to lower your costs with a premium tax credit. Refer to glossary for more details.

quality rating

Ratings range from 1-5 stars to help you compare Marketplace plans. Refer to glossary for more details.