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Health plan categories

Levels of plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace®: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Categories (sometimes called “metal levels”) are based on how you and your insurance plan split costs. Categories have nothing to do with quality of care. (“Catastrophic” plans are available to some people.)For each plan category, you’ll pay a different percentage of total yearly costs of your care, and your insurance company will pay the rest. Total costs include premiumsThe amount you pay for your health insurance every month. In addition to your premium, you usually have to pay other costs for your health care, including a deductible, copayments, and coinsurance. If you have a Marketplace health plan, you may be able to lower your costs with a premium tax credit.Refer to glossary for more details., deductiblesThe amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself.Refer to glossary for more details., and out-of-pocket costs like copaymentsA fixed amount ($20, for example) you pay for a covered health care service after you've paid your deductible.Refer to glossary for more details. and coinsuranceThe percentage of costs of a covered health care service you pay (20%, for example) after you've paid your deductible.Refer to glossary for more details..Each category may include several types of plans and provider networks, like health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs).Related contentMarketplace insurance categoriesTypes of plans and provider networks

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