A Gold Marketplace health plan has an actuarial value of approximately 80%. Therefore, the insurer is expected to pay about 80% of covered medical costs for a standard population, while enrollees as a group pay approximately 20% through deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
Actuarial value does not mean that the insurer pays exactly 80% of every individual’s bills. A particular insured may pay more or less than 20% in a year depending on the services used, the plan’s deductible, copayment structure, provider network, prescription-drug costs, and whether the annual out-of-pocket maximum has been reached. It is an overall measure of expected cost sharing for covered benefits.
The standard metal levels are Bronze at 60%, Silver at 70%, Gold at 80%, and Platinum at 90%. Gold plans generally have higher monthly premiums than Bronze or Silver plans but lower cost sharing when health care is received. Platinum plans generally have the highest premiums and the lowest cost sharing.
Study Guide references/topics: Affordable Care Act; Marketplace plans; metal levels; actuarial value; deductibles; copayments; HealthCare.gov plan categories .
===============
