The ACA Marketplace organises individual health insurance plans into four metal tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) plus a fifth Catastrophic tier for under-30s. The tiers represent the average percentage of medical costs the plan covers (the actuarial value). The bigger 2026 news is the rule change making every Bronze and Catastrophic plan automatically HSA-eligible, which expands HSA access to several million additional Marketplace enrollees.
This page covers all five tiers with detailed actuarial values, the Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) mechanics that make Silver dominant for low-income households, and the income-and-health-status decision framework for choosing among them.
| Tier | AV | Eligibility | Premium | Deductible | HSA-eligible | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | <60% | Under 30 or hardship exemption | Lowest | Very high ($9,200 single 2024) | Yes (2026 rule) | Healthy under-30s buying minimal coverage |
| Bronze | 60% | Any age | Low | High ($6,000-$9,200) | Yes (2026 rule) | Healthy, low expected use, HSA-focused |
| Expanded Bronze | 65% | Any age, where available | Low-Medium | $5,500-$7,500 | Yes if structured as HDHP | Healthy, want slight copay protection |
| Silver (standard) | 70% | Any age | Medium | $3,500-$6,000 | No (rarely HDHP-qualifying) | Moderate use, no CSR eligibility |
| Silver with CSR (150% FPL) | 94% | 138-150% FPL households | Medium (Silver premium) | $250-$500 | No | Low-income households, dominant choice |
| Silver with CSR (200% FPL) | 87% | 150-200% FPL households | Medium (Silver premium) | $1,000-$2,000 | No | Low-moderate income, strong CSR |
| Silver with CSR (250% FPL) | 73% | 200-250% FPL households | Medium (Silver premium) | $3,000-$4,500 | No | Moderate income, modest CSR boost |
| Gold | 80% | Any age | Medium-High | $1,000-$3,500 | Rarely qualifying | Predictable moderate-high use, no CSR |
| Platinum | 90% | Any age (limited availability) | High | $0-$1,500 | No | High annual medical spending, predictable costs important |
This is the most significant HSA rule change since the catch-up contribution was added in 2003. Effective January 1, 2026, all ACA Marketplace Bronze and Catastrophic plans automatically qualify as HDHPs under IRS HSA-eligibility rules, regardless of the pre-deductible copay structures that previously disqualified many Bronze plans.
Before 2026, a Marketplace shopper choosing a Bronze plan had to carefully verify whether the specific plan met IRS HDHP definitions. Many Bronze plans had copays for primary care visits or generic prescriptions before the deductible, which technically broke HSA eligibility. Estimates suggest 30 to 50 percent of pre-2026 Bronze plans were non-HSA-eligible despite meeting the deductible thresholds.
The 2026 change removes the ambiguity. Every Bronze and Catastrophic plan, regardless of cost-sharing structure, now qualifies as an HDHP. CMS analysis cited in the rule preamble estimates 4 to 6 million additional Marketplace enrollees can now open and contribute to HSAs. For self-employed individuals, freelancers, gig workers, and early retirees on the Marketplace, this is the largest expansion of HSA access in two decades.
See our 2026 HSA contribution limits page for the full mechanics of contributing to an HSA via a Marketplace Bronze plan.
Cost Sharing Reduction is an additional subsidy beyond the Premium Tax Credit that lowers your deductible, copays, and coinsurance. CSR is only available on Silver plans, and only to households with income between 138 percent and 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
CSR works by "boosting" the actuarial value of the Silver plan above its standard 70 percent. Households at 138-150 percent FPL get a 94 percent AV Silver plan (essentially Platinum-tier benefits at Silver-tier premium). Households at 150-200 percent FPL get 87 percent AV. Households at 200-250 percent FPL get 73 percent AV (a modest boost).
For 2026 FPL thresholds (annually indexed): 138 percent FPL for a single person is approximately $20,800. 250 percent FPL for a single person is approximately $37,800. For a household of 4, 138 percent FPL is approximately $43,000, 250 percent FPL is approximately $77,800. If your household income falls in this band, Silver-with-CSR is almost always the dominant choice. The premium is comparable to a standard Silver plan, but the out-of-pocket benefits resemble Gold or Platinum.
Critical: CSR only applies to Silver. If you are in the CSR income range and you choose Bronze, you forfeit the CSR benefit entirely. The premium savings of Bronze versus Silver is usually $20 to $60 per month at the same plan tier, while the CSR benefit is worth $1,500 to $6,000 per year in reduced deductible and copays. Silver-CSR wins by a wide margin.
The PTC is calculated based on the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area (the "benchmark plan"). Your PTC amount equals the benchmark Silver premium minus a percentage of your income (the "applicable percentage", which varies from 0 percent at 150 percent FPL up to 8.5 percent at 400 percent FPL under IRA extensions for plan year 2026).
You can use the PTC on any metal tier. If you choose Bronze, the PTC often covers the entire Bronze premium, sometimes producing zero net cost. If you choose Gold, the PTC covers a smaller portion of the higher Gold premium. The PTC amount is the same regardless of which tier you choose; only the net premium changes.
The strategic implication: for households eligible for substantial PTC, the cost of moving up to Gold or Platinum is the full incremental premium (because PTC is fixed). For households with smaller or no PTC, the cost is the same incremental premium. PTC does not change the metal tier decision logic, but it does change the absolute affordability calculations.
Starting January 1, 2026, all ACA Marketplace Bronze and Catastrophic plans automatically qualify as HDHPs for HSA eligibility. Previously, some Bronze plans had features (such as pre-deductible copays for specific services) that technically disqualified them from HDHP status, even though their deductibles exceeded the IRS minimum. The 2026 change removes that barrier. CMS estimates 4-6 million additional Marketplace enrollees can now open and contribute to HSAs as a result.
CSR is an additional subsidy beyond the Premium Tax Credit that lowers your deductible, copays, and coinsurance. CSR is only available on Silver plans, and only to households with income between 138 percent and 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For a household earning 150 percent FPL, a Silver plan with CSR can have a $250 deductible and 6 percent coinsurance, effectively delivering Platinum-tier benefits at Silver-tier premium. Households in the CSR income range should almost always choose Silver.
Bronze, almost always, for healthy individuals not eligible for CSR. The lower premium plus minimal expected medical use combines well with HSA tax savings (now available on all Bronze plans starting 2026). The break-even point where a Silver plan becomes cheaper than Bronze is typically $4,000-$6,000 in annual medical spending. Below that, Bronze wins. Above that, Silver wins. Gold wins above roughly $8,000 in spending, Platinum above $12,000.
Usually yes for households with predictable high annual spending. Gold (80 percent actuarial value) and Platinum (90 percent) have higher premiums but lower deductibles and copays, which is favourable when you know you will use heavy care. For a household with a chronic condition costing $10,000+ annually, the higher Gold or Platinum premium is offset by lower out-of-pocket costs. Run the math for your specific spending pattern; do not assume the cheapest premium is the cheapest total cost.
Actuarial value (AV) is the percentage of total covered medical costs the plan pays, on average, for a standard population. Bronze: 60 percent AV. Silver: 70 percent AV. Gold: 80 percent AV. Platinum: 90 percent AV. The remaining percentage is the patient's average out-of-pocket cost. AV is a population average, not your personal cost. Your actual cost depends on how much care you use, your specific plan's design, and how the plan structures deductibles, copays, and coinsurance to hit the AV target.
Not insurance or tax advice. Based on 2026 ACA Marketplace rules including the Bronze HSA-eligibility expansion, IRA-extended PTC rules, and 2026 FPL thresholds (which are indexed annually). For specific plan recommendations and PTC quotes, use Healthcare.gov, your state exchange, or a licensed Marketplace navigator.