What's the difference between Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Marketplace plans?

HealthCare.gov puts Marketplace plans into 4 categories, also called metal levels. They are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. There is a 5th category, Catastrophic plans. Where they are available in your area, they are open to people under 30, and to people who qualify for a hardship or affordability exemption. The categories have nothing to do with the quality of care you get. Generally the difference is the plan's share and your share of costs for covered services [1].

These are HealthCare.gov's own estimates of each split, and the actual costs you pay vary by plan [1]. Bronze: the plan pays 60%, you pay 40%, and the deductible is generally high. Silver: 70% and 30%, with a moderate deductible. Silver with extra savings: 73–94% and 6–27%, with a low deductible. Gold: 80% and 20%, low deductible. Platinum: 90% and 10%, low deductible [1].

Two things cut across the levels. The first is the extra savings, which depend on your income and come only with a Silver plan [1]. The second is cover: all Marketplace plans in every category must cover the same 10 essential health benefits, including preventive services [1]. HealthCare.gov also says all Bronze and Catastrophic plans work with Health Savings Accounts, and some plans in other categories do too [1].

This answer does not say which level to pick. The page quoted here prints no dollar price for the levels either [1]. You see your own premium when you compare plans in the Marketplace.

Read the «Health plan categories» page at healthcare.gov, then open each plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage, which prints the deductible, the out-of-pocket maximum and your share of each service.