The four metal levels.
| Level | Plan pays (average) | Monthly premium | Costs when you get care | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | About 60% | Lowest | Highest | Healthy people who mainly want protection from a big bill; HSA savers |
| Silver | About 70% (up to 94% with savings) | Moderate | Moderate | Anyone under 250% of the poverty level; the benchmark for tax credits |
| Gold | About 80% | Higher | Lower | Regular care, ongoing prescriptions, a planned procedure |
| Platinum | About 90% | Highest | Lowest | Heavy, predictable use; none were offered in the 2026 Texas and Oklahoma counties we checked |
Every metal level covers the same essential health benefits, including preventive care at no cost. The network, drug list and doctors are set by the insurer and plan, not by the metal.
How to choose in four questions.
- Is your income under 250% of the poverty level? Look at silver first. See cost-sharing reductions.
- How much care do you expect? Add the premium for 12 months to the deductible and copays you expect to use. The cheapest premium is not always the cheapest year.
- Could you pay the deductible tomorrow? If a bronze deductible would be a crisis, a higher metal is insurance against that.
- Are your doctors and drugs covered? Check the plan's network and formulary before the metal. In the big Texas counties, 2026 Marketplace plans were all HMO, EPO or POS, with no PPOs.
Why the silver plan sets your tax credit.
Your premium tax credit is sized so that the second-lowest cost silver plan in your area costs a set share of your income. You can apply that same dollar credit to any metal. When the lowest bronze plan costs less than the credit, it can cost very little each month; gold can also land close to silver in some counties. Always compare after-credit prices, which our cost estimator shows for your ZIP code.
Want a licensed advisor to run your numbers?
Get my free optionsBronze plus an HSA.
Starting in 2026, every bronze and catastrophic Marketplace plan counts as HSA-compatible under federal law. That lets you put money aside pre-tax for medical costs, which also lowers the income used for your tax credit. For healthy households near the subsidy cliff, bronze plus an HSA can be a strong pairing.
Questions people ask.
Is a gold plan better than silver?
Not better care, just a different cost split. Gold charges more each month and less when you use care. Under 250% of the poverty level, a silver plan with cost-sharing reductions often covers more than gold for less.
Are HSA plans available on HealthCare.gov?
Yes. From 2026, all bronze and catastrophic Marketplace plans are HSA-compatible.
Why are there no PPO plans in Texas?
Insurers decide which plan types to sell. In the Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston area counties, 2026 Marketplace plans were HMO, EPO or POS only. Oklahoma still has PPOs.
Sources.
- HealthCare.gov, The metal categories. healthcare.gov
- 45 CFR 156.420, Plan variations for cost-sharing reductions. ecfr.gov
- H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21), sections 71304, 71305 and 71307. congress.gov
- CMS Marketplace API (HealthCare.gov plan and eligibility data), queried September 23, 2026. developer.cms.gov
General information for Texas and Oklahoma residents, not tax or legal advice. Rules and numbers can change; this page is reviewed on the date shown above. Your eligibility and prices are set by HealthCare.gov or the insurer when you apply.
Who wrote this.
RedHealth Advisors LLC is a licensed health insurance agency in Round Rock, Texas (Texas agency license 3449979, NPN 22110493), serving Texas and Oklahoma. Ryan Hutson is a licensed agent (NPN 21321807). Licensing details.