How to pick a health insurance plan

The health plan categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum

How you and your insurance plan split costs

Which health plan category is right for you?

Bronze

• Lowest monthly premium
• Highest costs when you need care
• Bronze plan deductibles — the amount of medical costs you pay yourself before your insurance plan starts to pay — can be thousands of dollars a year.
• Good choice if: You want a low-cost way to protect yourself from worst-case medical scenarios, like serious sickness or injury. Your monthly premium will be low, but you’ll have to pay for most routine care yourself.

Silver

• Moderate monthly premium
• Moderate costs when you need care
• Silver deductibles — the costs you pay yourself before your plan pays anything — are usually lower than those of Bronze plans.

• Good choice if: You qualify for “extra savings” — or, if not, if you’re willing to pay a slightly higher monthly premium than Bronze to have more of your routine care covered.

Gold

• High monthly premium
• Low costs when you need care
• Deductibles — the amount of medical costs you pay yourself before your plan pays — are usually low.
• Good choice if: You’re willing to pay more each month to have more costs covered when you get medical treatment. If you use a lot of care, a Gold plan could be a good value.

Platinum

• Highest monthly premium
• Lowest costs when you get care
• Deductibles are very low, meaning your plan starts paying its share earlier than for other categories of plans.
• Good choice if: You usually use a lot of care and are willing to pay a high monthly premium, knowing nearly all other costs will be covered.

Your premium can be lower, based on your income