Here's the secret the tier names hide: at some incomes, silver quietly pays like a platinum plan. At others, silver is deliberately overpriced and gold beats it. The right answer depends on two things — your income and how much care you actually use. Answer both and get your match.
Free comparison of the actual plans at your tier in your county. No pressure, no obligation.
General guidance only. This tool applies the federal cost-sharing reduction income bands and typical actuarial values by tier; it cannot see actual plan prices, networks, or drug formularies in your county, which can change the answer. It is not a recommendation to purchase any specific plan. Final plan selection should weigh real premiums, providers, and prescriptions — a licensed agent can do that comparison free. Smooth Health Solutions is not affiliated with or endorsed by HealthCare.gov, CMS, or HHS.
The names suggest quality; they actually measure who pays what share. Bronze plans are designed to cover about 60% of costs, silver 70%, gold 80% — lower premium, higher deductible as you go down. But two rules bend the whole picture. First, cost-sharing reductions: between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level, the government secretly upgrades silver plans only — below 150% of poverty a silver plan pays 94% of costs, better than any gold plan sold. Second, silver loading: insurers price those upgrades into silver premiums, so if you don't qualify for CSRs, silver is often the worst deal on the shelf and gold can cost the same or less.
Income-based upgrades that attach only to silver plans: below 150% of poverty, silver pays like platinum (94% actuarial value); to 200%, better than gold (87%); to 250%, modestly enhanced (73%). If you qualify for the strong CSR levels, silver is almost always the answer.
Silver loading — insurers put the cost of CSR upgrades onto silver premiums specifically, and some states (Texas and Arkansas among our 23) mandate heavy loads. An unsubsidized shopper can end up paying more for silver's 70% coverage than for gold's 80%. Always cross-price them.
Healthy, rarely at the doctor, no CSR eligibility, want catastrophe protection at minimum cost. Your fixed-dollar subsidy stretches furthest on bronze — sometimes to $0/month — and HSA-eligible bronze plans add a tax break. Just go in eyes-open about the deductible.
No. The credit is a fixed dollar amount set by the benchmark silver plan; you can spend it on any tier. Compare what's left after the credit on each tier — that's the real price list.
Platinum (90% AV) is rare and pricey — mostly for very heavy, predictable usage where the math works. Catastrophic plans are limited to under-30s and hardship exemptions, and you can't use subsidies on them — CSR silver usually beats them even on price for anyone who qualifies.
Estimate your credit with the subsidy calculator, check your enrollment window with the SEP checker, or see real 2026 tier pricing in your state: