---
kind: "section"
citation: "45 C.F.R. § 156.140"
title: "45"
number: "156.140"
heading: "Levels of coverage."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/45/156.140"
---

# §156.140. Levels of coverage.

- (a) **General requirement for levels of coverage.** AV, calculated as described in [§ 156.135](/cfr/45/156.135.md) of this subpart, and within a de minimis variation as defined in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, determines whether a health plan offers a bronze, silver, gold, or platinum level of coverage.
- (b) **The levels of coverage—** are:
  - (1) **A bronze health plan—** is a health plan that has an AV of 60 percent.
  - (2) **A silver health plan—** is a health plan that has an AV of 70 percent.
  - (3) **A gold health plan—** is a health plan that has an AV of 80 percent.
  - (4) **A platinum health plan—** is a health plan that has as an AV of 90 percent.
- (c) **De minimis variation.**
  - (1) The allowable variation in the AV of a health plan that does not result in a material difference in the true dollar value of the health plan is −4 percentage points and +2 percentage points, except if a health plan under [paragraph (b)(1)](#b-1) of this section (a bronze health plan) either covers and pays for at least one major service, other than preventive services, before the deductible or meets the requirements to be a high deductible health plan within the meaning of section 223(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, in which case the allowable variation in AV for such plan is −4 percentage points and +5 percentage points.
  - (2) [Reserved]

## Notes

### Amendments

[78 FR 12866, Feb. 25, 2013, as amended at 81 FR 94180, Dec. 22, 2016; 82 FR 18382, Apr. 18, 2017; 87 FR 27390, May 6, 2022; 90 FR 27223, June 25, 2025]

### Source

Source: 78 FR 12866, Feb. 25, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 18021-18024, 18031-18032, 18041-18042, 18044, 18054, 18061, 18063, 18071, 18082, and 26 U.S.C. 36B.

### Source

Source: 76 FR 77411, Dec. 13, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[78 FR 12866, Feb. 25, 2013, as amended at 81 FR 94180, Dec. 22, 2016; 82 FR 18382, Apr. 18, 2017; 87 FR 27390, May 6, 2022; 90 FR 27223, June 25, 2025]