THE COMING BRONZE AGE OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH INSURANCE
- The Bronze Exchange plan is the least expensive option for adults 30 and over
- Subsidies are available on the Bronze plan if eligible
Bronze Plan Benefit Summary
We apologize in advance but the Bronze Age was just too easy not to use. With the roll-out of health reform, the vast majority of health plans purchased will either be Bronze or Silver. There will be little reason or cost advantage to purchasing the Platinum or Gold plan unless a person has very large medical expenses and is NOT offered the Enhanced Silver plans based on income. Let’s understand why Bronze will be the defacto choice for out of Exchange plans and why a person would go out of the Exchange to begin with. First, what is the Bronze plan?
The Lowest-Priced Reform Plan Available To Most People
Health reform established 4 basic plan levels plus one catastrophic (for people under age 30). They are called the Metallic plans and they’re composed of the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The benefits and resulting premiums go down with each level as we discussed in our Metallic Plan article with platinum being the richest (and most expensive). If you qualify for a health subsidy based on income, you’ll purchase the Silver plan in the Exchange. If you do not qualify for a health subsidy (make more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level) or want a larger provider network, you will likely settle on the Bronze plan as the best cost value. Let’s first look at the core Bronze benefits has set out by State authorities.
California Bronze Plan Benefit
California State authorities released their Bronze plan blue print. There are two Bronze options. The first is a $5000 deductible with 30% coinsurance or copay sharing for an additional $1400 out of pocket max. There are 3 office visits copays right away plus preventative benefits. You can read the full list of Bronze benefits from out site. The other Bronze option is a $4500 deductible HSA option. It has a 40% coinsurance for additional $1400 out of pocket max. The two plans are very comparable. So why will these plans be so popular off the Exchange since they have the highest deductibles and less rich benefits?
Cost Is King With The Bronze Health Plan
The next jump up from the Bronze is the Silver plan. It has a $1500 deductible, $6400 max of pocket with 20% cost sharing and $500 deductible for RX. On today’s market, this would be a very rich plan. The lowest deductibles on the market are currently around $1500. We used to have richer plans like this but they all went away and guess why? Cost. They became so expensive that no one wanted them. There’s no reason to expect differently with the pricing for the Metallic plans. In fact, with guaranteed issue and other mandates, the jump in premiums as you go up the scale will be even larger. The rates will be out mid summer but we expect the difference in cost between the Silver and Bronze to run a few thousand per person per year. Healthy enrollees will take the higher deductible and premium savings. This means the risk pool for the richer plans (and this effect applies even more to the Gold and Platinum) will be less healthy and the premiums will go up faster. The carriers aren’t stupid and they understand this. You can expect to the different in premium to about equal the difference in benefits if not exceed them (due to guaranteed issue). In a nutshell, this is why the future of non-Exchange health plans will be Bronze.
Popular Related Articles:
Health Exchange Plan Benefit Summaries
Why the Silver Plan Matters
Penalties for not purchasing California health insurance
You can run your Bronze Health Plan Quote here to view rates and plans side by side from the major carriers…Free.
Again, there is absolutely no cost to you for our services. Call 800-320-6269 Today!
Your Calhealth Advantage
Our online tools, free quotes and licensed agents are here to help you find a plan.

ON THE BLOG
Featured Articles
California Individual Vision Insurance
California Health Reform Subsidy
California Health Insurance Resource List
California Health Insurance Rate Increases
California Health Insurance Office Copay
California Health Insurance Maternity and Individual
California Health Insurance Individual Versus Cobra
California Health Insurance Individual Underwriting
California Health Insurance Group Value Dental Vision
California Health Insurance Group Kaiser
California Health Insurance Definitions
California Health Insurance Coverage Rescission
California Health Insurance Continuing Education
California Health Care Rights
California Blue Shield Vital Shield
Best California Health Insurance Plan
Affordable California Health Insurance
Understand Senior California Health Insurance
Covered California for Small Business
Individual California Health Insurance If Declined
Individual California Health Insurance Application Questionnaire
Health Net California Application Center
GURU Which Plan Should I Go With
GURU Subsidy If Offered Group Coverage
Do HSA Funds Roll Over
Compare and Contrast Alieracare Health Sharing Plan Benefits
California Vision Insurance Group
California Individual Dental Insurance
California HSA Plans and Health Reform
California Health Insurance Simplified
California Health Insurance Hospital Plans
California Health Insurance College Plan
California Health Insurance Cancel Individual Group Insurance
California Health Exchange Platinum Plan
California Health Exchange and Non Exchange Plans
Bronze California Health Plan
Covered California Open Enrollment How To
Covered California Open Enrollment
Covered California Early Pre Enroll
Small Business Tax Credits Covered California
GURU What If I Miss Open Enrollment Period
Free Assistance Covered California Enrollment
Covered California Enrollment After Open Enrollment
Comparing Deductible and Out of Pocket
California PCIP Health Insurance
California Medi-cal
California Health Insurance Group How to Choose
Avoid Bad Health Insurance Plan
Anthem Blue Cross California Application Center
How to Quote United Health National Restaurant Association
Hold On to Grandfathered Health Plans
Health Insurance for Engineering Firms
GURU What Income Period Do They Look At
Carriers
California Health Subsidy Calculator
California Health Reform Penalty
California Health Insurance Group Guaranteed Issue
Are Health Care Sharing Ministry Plans Worth It
Travel Medical Insurance
Term Life Insurance in California
Health Reform Rebates California Health Insurance
GURU Do I Use Business or Personal Gross Income
Guide Continuation of Coverage
Federal Poverty Level and California Health Insurance
California Individual Family Delta Dental
California Health Insurance Exchange
California Health Insurance Discount Plans
California Health Insurance Coinsurance
California Health Insurance Agencies
California Family Health Insurance
Obamacare Health Insurance for Gig Economy
Complaints California Health Plan
California Health Insurance Copays
Anthem Blue Cross Covered California Plans Rates Networks
Short Term Health Insurance
Short Term Insurance
Kaiser Covered California Rates Plans
California Health Insurance Individual Split Policy
Blue Shield of California
HSA Versus PPO Health Plans California
GURU What Effective Date Can I Pick
California Individual Family VSP Vision
California HSA HRA Health Insurance
California Health Insurance Dental Networks
California Health Insurance Concept
Pros and Cons of Health Sharing Plans Like Alieracare
Health Sharing Plans for Short Term Health in California
Embedded Deductibles in California Health Plans
United Health Group Rates Save Employers
Sharp Health in Covered California Reviews Plans Rates
Senior Supplement Best Value
California Health Insurance Negotiated Rates
AlieraCare CarePlus Advantage Catastrophic Health Sharing Plan Review Quote Comparison
Kaiser Through Covered California
TrumpCare HSA and Obamacare Covered California
Guide High Risk Pools
Common Questions Pre-existing and Options
California Restaurant Association United Health Plan
California Health Insurance Payment Options
California Group Health Insurance Eligibility
Current Individual HSA Health Insurance Options
Critical Illness Insurance Review Rates Plans
California Special Enrollment Periods SEP
California Health Insurance Life Time Max
California Health Insurance Claims Processing
Understand Group California Health Insurance
Student Health Insurance California
GURU Whats Difference Between In Out Exchange Plans
Are Health Sharing Plan Payments Deductible
Small Business Penalty Paying Individual Plans
Small Business Penalty Paying Individual Plans
California Health Insurance Primary Care Physician
Moving to California Covered California
California Small Business
California Health Insurance Sick Rates Change
Aetna Leaves California Individual Health Market
Covered California Tax Penalty
What is Best Health Sharing Ministry Plan
United Health Insurance National Restaurant Association Employees
Pacificare of California
La Care Health Plan Review Rates Networks
Covered California Compare Bronze Silver Plans
California Medicare Supplement Center
Basic PPO Blue Cross California
Critical Illness Insurance California
California Small Group RAF
Health Net In Covered California Reviews Rates Plans
California Insurance and Alternative Health Care
What Is Health Sharing Ministry And Plan
Covered California Versus Short Term Health Insurance
California Health Emergency Urgent Care
Smart Sense Blue Cross California
Kaiser Short Term Health Insurance
California On Exchange Application Terms Conditions
Guide Group Health Insurance
Free Assistance Covered California Enrollment
By Major Insurance Company
Blue Shield California Plans Rates Reviews
California Health Insurance Group New Company
Covered California Tax Credit
Health Insurance by State
California Health Insurance Out of Network
Anthem Blue Cross Leaving California Market 2018
Losing Health Insurance After Divorce
Cobra
California Health Insurance Max Out Of Pocket
United Health versus Anthem Blue Cross California
Short Term Health Insurance Between Jobs
Cheap California Health Insurance
California Health Insurance Group Size
California Health Insurance Broker Agent
Anthem Blue Cross Covered California
California Health Insurance Group Premium Only Plan POP
California Health Insurance Deductibles
Alternative to Obamacare Health Insurance
Health Sharing Versus Covered California
Current Catastrophic Health Insurance Options
California Health Insurance Rates Based On
Covered California Open Enrollment Changes
California Health Carrier Comparison
Missed Health Insurance Open Enrollment Deadline
What are Medicare Excess Charges
How to Apply for Aliera Care Health Sharing Plans
Medicare Supplement versus Medicare Advantage Comparison
Major Medical California Insurance
Immediate Health Insurance In California
Individual Health Insurance Between States
How to Pay Covered California Premium
Already Pregnant California Health Insurance
Health Insurance for High Earners California
Obamacare Health Insurance Versus Health Sharing Comparison
California On Exchange Application
Is Western Health Advantage PPO or HMO
Health Insurance Between Retirement And Medicare
California Retirement Health Insurance Options
California Health Insurance Group 1099
California Health Insurance Blue Card
California Health Insurance Acupuncture
Are Health Sharing Plans Like Alieracare Tax Deductible
Guide California Health Doctor Network
Health Savings Account
GURU What If I Move To California
Blue Cross Blue Shield Short Term Health Insurance
Calcobra Extension
Oscar California Health Insurance Review Rates Plans
Losing Health Insurance at Age 26
California PPO POS Health Insurance
California Health Reform 400 Poverty Level
Covered California Login Issues
California Health Insurance High Deductible Plan
GURU Medi Cal for Children
California Health Pre Existing Condition
Obamacare Income Guidelines in California
How to Designate Covered California Agent
How to Quote AlieraCare for Short Term Coverage
California Health Insurance Full Time Student
Do Health Insurance Plans Cover CBD
Catastrophic Health Insurance California
California Health Insurance Out Of State Employees
Covered California Marketplace Tax Credit
Health Insurance For Larger Family Of 4 5 6 Or More
Common Questions Individual Contract
Can You Have HSA Account With Health Sharing Plans
Blue Cross Senior Smart Choice
GURU What If My Income Changes
California Health Insurance Carrier Comparison
Self Employed Health Insurance California
Health Insurance for 1-2-3 Months
How to Apply for Covered California
Kaiser Versus Western Health Advantage Comparison
California Health Insurance Chiropractic
Covered California Versus Cobra Comparison
California Los Angeles Medi Medi Anthem Mediblue Health Plan
How to Quote Aliera Care Health Sharing Rates
California Health Insurance Dependent Children
GURU Tax Filing Status and Covered California
California Health Insurance HMO Versus PPO
GURU Difference Between EPO And PPO
California Health Insurance Group Part Time
Comparing Covered California Plans
Covered California Self Employment Income
Health Net Versus Anthem Blue Cross Comparison
Common Questions Time to Process Application
GURU What Type Of Income
Kaiser Versus Sharp Health Plan Review Comparison
How To Pick Best Covered California Health Plan
Do HSA Funds Roll Over
Anthem Blue Cross Versus United Health Comparison
Kaiser Versus PPO
Aliera Care Health Sharing Plan Review Rates Plans
Health Care Sharing Ministry Comparison Review
Emergency Health Insurance California
Secular Non Religious Health Sharing Plan
Blue Shield California Versus United Health Comparison
Kaiser Versus Health Net Comparison Reviews
Health Net Versus Blue Shield California
Blue Shield Versus Anthem Blue Cross California
Blue Shield California Individual Rate Increase
Does A Company Have To Offer Health Insurance California
Kaiser Versus United Health Comparison Reviews
Kaiser Versus Anthem California
Blue Shield California Versus Kaiser Comparison Review
Blue Shield California Individual Rate Increase
Holiday
California Health Insurance Law
Blue Cross Smart Sense Individual
Blue Cross May Focal Renewal Group
Blue Cross Group Rates
Blue Cross California Individual Rate Increase
Blue Cross California Individual Rate Increase
Blue Cross Anthem Name Change
SCHIP Status
Immunizations
HSA Guideline Update
Blue Shield HIPAA Approach
Blue Cross Urgent Care Network
Blue Cross Small Group Rate Increase
Blue Cross Rate Increase Individual
Blue Cross Rate Increase Client
Blue Cross New Consumer Driven Plan
Blue Cross Healthy Living
Antibiotic Power
Holiday
California Mental Health Parity Bill
California Mental Health Parity
Blue Shield Rate Increase Individual
Blue Shield of California
Blue Cross Transfer To Colorado Nevada
Blue Cross Lawsuit
Blue Cross Billing Fee
Blue Shield New Individual Plans
Blue Cross Core 5000
Two Decades Of Helping Californians Find Affordable Health Insurance
Kaiser Versus Blue Shield Of California
See All Reviews on the Blog
See All Reviews on the Blog
- Over 500,000 Quotes
- 10’s of 1000’s Enrolled
- Guaranteed Best Rates
- Referenced for finding affordable
- California Health Inurance

20 years of experience in the California health insurance market has taught us one thing… Competent and experienced guidance is INVALUABLE
We are licensed Covered Ca agents with in-depth knowledge of their plans, process, and tax credits.
This website is owned and operated by Goodacre Insurance Services, which is solely responsible for its content. This site is not maintained by or associated with Covered California, and Covered California bears no responsibility for its content. The email address and phone numbers that appear throughout the site belong to Goodacre Insurance Services, and cannot be used to contact Covered California.