Estimate your ACA Marketplace premium, subsidy amount, and monthly cost for Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans.
Benchmark Silver Premium = Sum of per-member base costs x age multiplier x tobacco multiplier
Adults (21+): $450 base / Children: $200 base
Age multipliers: 21-30: 1.0 / 31-40: 1.10 / 41-50: 1.30
51-60: 1.55 / 60+: 1.70
Tobacco surcharge: x1.5 if Yes
FPL % = Household Income / Federal Poverty Line for household size x 100
Subsidy = max(0, Benchmark Premium - Income x Cap%)
Cap (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25, 2026 plan year):
under 133% FPL: 2.10% / 133-150%: 3.14-4.19%
150-200%: 4.19-6.60% / 200-250%: 6.60-8.44%
250-300%: 8.44-9.96% / 300-400%: 9.96%
over 400% FPL: no credit (subsidy cliff restored for 2026)
Your Premium = (Benchmark x Metal Multiplier) - Subsidy
Bronze: x0.75 / Silver: x1.0 / Gold: x1.20 / Platinum: x1.40
A premium is the monthly amount you pay for your health insurance plan, regardless of whether you use medical services.
A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for covered services before your insurance starts to pay. Preventive care is usually covered before the deductible.
Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans differ in how costs are split between you and your insurer. Bronze has the lowest premium but highest out-of-pocket costs; Platinum is the reverse.
You may qualify for a Premium Tax Credit if your income is between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level and you enroll through the ACA Marketplace.
An HMO requires you to use a network of doctors and get referrals for specialists. A PPO gives you more flexibility to see any doctor without referrals, but costs more.
Age and household. Age and the number of people covered are primary drivers of a health premium. Coverage for a family costs more than for an individual, and premiums rise with age within legal limits.
Metal tier. Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum trade premium against out-of-pocket cost: Bronze has the lowest premium but the highest deductible, Platinum the reverse. Pick the tier that matches how much care you expect to use.
Location and income. Your state and rating area set base pricing, and if you buy on the marketplace, your income may qualify you for premium tax credits that lower the net cost.
The range reflects tier and regional pricing before any subsidy. The low end approximates a younger enrollee on a lower tier; the high end reflects older age, a family, or a richer tier. If you buy through the marketplace, subsidies can reduce the real cost substantially, so treat this as the sticker price and check your subsidy eligibility separately.
This is an educational estimate, not a quote or an eligibility determination. It does not calculate your exact premium tax credit, employer-plan contributions, or network differences, all of which materially change what you pay. Plan availability varies by state and enrollment period. Compare real plans on your state or federal marketplace before enrolling.
Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum describe how you and the plan split costs. Bronze has low premiums and high out-of-pocket costs; Platinum is the reverse. Silver is often best if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions.
If you buy on the marketplace and your income falls within the eligible range, premium tax credits can significantly lower your monthly cost. Eligibility depends on income and household size.
It is the most you will pay in a year for covered, in-network care. After you reach it, the plan pays 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year.
Interpret a quote with reading a health insurance estimate, compare tiers in metal tiers explained, weigh plan types in HMO vs. PPO vs. EPO, and check savings in ACA subsidies and premium tax credits.
Premium estimates are based on 2026 ACA marketplace benchmark rates by age, household size, and region, adjusted for metal tier, tobacco use, and subsidy eligibility using the federal poverty level income thresholds. Data sourced from CMS public use files and Kaiser Family Foundation premium analysis. Rates reviewed June 2026.
Data sources: