Bronze, Silver or Gold? How to Choose Your 2027 ObamaCare Plan in Florida
Updated October 13, 2026 · By the Arte Insurance team · 6-minute read
When Open Enrollment opens on November 1, you’ll choose your 2027 plan by “metal level”: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. The metal level tells you how you and the plan split the cost of your care. It has nothing to do with the quality of care. Here’s how to choose, with the 2027 numbers.
1. What each metal level means
Level | Plan pays / you pay, on average | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
Bronze | 60% / 40% | Lowest premium before tax credits; highest costs when you get care (high deductible) |
Silver | 70% / 30% | Moderate premium and costs; extra savings if your income qualifies |
Gold | 80% / 20% | High premium; low costs when you get care |
Platinum | 90% / 10% | Highest premium; lowest costs when you get care |
These percentages are estimates for an average group of people, not what you’ll pay for each visit, and actual costs vary by plan. Platinum and catastrophic plans aren’t offered everywhere. Catastrophic plans are for people under 30, or people who qualify for a hardship or affordability exemption. If you qualify for a tax credit, a Bronze or Silver plan may be a better value.
2. Income up to 250% of the poverty level? Look at Silver first
If your income qualifies, Silver plans come with extra savings, called cost-sharing reductions: a lower deductible, lower copays and a lower out-of-pocket maximum. You only get them with a Silver plan.
These are the income ranges for 2027 coverage:
People in your household | Biggest extra savings (100%–200% of the poverty level) | Smaller extra savings (200%–250%) |
|---|---|---|
1 | $15,960 to $31,920 | $31,920 to $39,900 |
2 | $21,640 to $43,280 | $43,280 to $54,100 |
3 | $27,320 to $54,640 | $54,640 to $68,300 |
4 | $33,000 to $66,000 | $66,000 to $82,500 |
Most you’d pay for covered in-network care in 2027 | $4,000 for one person, $8,000 for a family | $9,600 for one person, $19,200 for a family |
Without extra savings, the 2027 limit is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. The ranges use the federal poverty guidelines that apply to 2027 coverage, and your savings depend on your 2027 income estimate. Try our 2027 savings calculator to see where you fall.
In Florida, households under 100% of the poverty level generally can’t get these savings. Children and pregnant women may still qualify for Medicaid or Florida KidCare.
3. Then compare Gold and Bronze too
Most insurers build the cost of Silver’s extra savings into Silver premiums. Your tax credit is based on the price of a benchmark Silver plan, so this can make Bronze and Gold plans cost less than you’d expect after your tax credit. Depending on your income and where you live, you might even find a Gold plan with a very low premium.
So compare the total yearly cost of your top choices:
12 months of premiums, after your tax credit
Plus what you’d likely pay for care: the deductible, copays and coinsurance for the visits and prescriptions you expect
4. Bronze: lowest premium, now with an HSA option
Bronze plans have the lowest premiums before tax credits, but the highest deductibles. Since January 1, 2026, all Bronze and catastrophic Marketplace plans work with a Health Savings Account (HSA), so you can set money aside tax-free for medical costs. Ask a tax professional how an HSA fits your situation.
5. Gold: higher premium, lower costs when you get care
If you expect a lot of care in 2027, such as a planned surgery, a pregnancy, ongoing treatment or several prescriptions, a Gold plan’s lower deductible and copays can cost less over the year than a cheaper plan with a high deductible. Run the numbers both ways.
6. Check more than the metal
Doctors and hospitals: HMO and EPO plans only cover in-network care, except emergencies. Make sure your doctors, clinics and hospital are in the network.
Prescriptions: check that your medicines are on the plan’s drug list, and what they cost.
Care before the deductible: some plans cover doctor visits or generic drugs with a copay before you meet the deductible.
Quality: HealthCare.gov shows a 1–5 star quality rating for many plans.
7. Key dates
November 1, 2026: Open Enrollment starts
December 15, 2026: last day to choose a plan that starts January 1
January 15, 2027: Open Enrollment ends
We’ll compare your options with you, for free
Call us at (305) 440-8070 or request a free quote. We’ll look at your 2027 income estimate, your doctors and your prescriptions, and compare the total yearly cost of your options, in English or Spanish. When we help you enroll, you’ll approve us with a one-time code (here’s how that works). Our help is free, and your premium is the same as if you enrolled on your own.
Arte Insurance is a private, licensed insurance agency (Florida license L116417). We are not HealthCare.gov or a government agency. You can also compare plans and enroll directly at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). This article is general information, not tax or legal advice.
Sources: HealthCare.gov: health plan categories · HealthCare.gov: cost-sharing reductions · HealthCare.gov: catastrophic plans · CMS: 2027 cost-sharing limits, Jan. 29, 2026 (PDF) · healthinsurance.org: cost-sharing reductions and Silver loading · HHS: 2026 poverty guidelines