Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is fully incorporated into Pennsylvania Accident and Health Insurance standards, health insurance plans sold in the individual and small group markets are categorized into four standardizedmetal levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These levels do not describe the quality of care but rather theactuarial value, or the percentage of total average healthcare costs the plan is expected to cover.
Bronze plans typically cover approximately 60% of healthcare expenses and have lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs. Silver plans cover about 70% and are particularly significant because cost-sharing reductions apply only to Silver-level plans for eligible individuals. Gold plans cover approximately 80% of costs, while Platinum plans cover about 90%, offering lower deductibles and copayments but higher premiums.
Pennsylvania insurance study guides emphasize that these metal tiers allow consumers to compare plans more easily based on cost-sharing responsibility. The remaining answer choices describe family status classifications, types of managed care plans, or unrelated benefit structures, none of which define ACA coverage levels. Therefore,Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinumis the correct and verified answer.
