State RegulationsCA specific✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 2/5
Cost-sharing reductions (CSR) that lower a consumer's deductibles and copayments are available on Covered California silver plans to individuals with income between:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Cost-sharing reductions are subsidies available only on silver-tier plans to individuals with household income between 138% and 250% of the federal poverty level. They lower the out-of-pocket amounts consumers pay, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, beyond what the silver plan's 70% actuarial value would otherwise provide. Because CSR applies only to silver plans, choosing a gold or bronze plan forfeits the subsidy. This income band is a tested element of the MAGI eligibility material in AH-III.C.2.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Income above 400% FPL does not qualify for CSR, which is capped at 250% FPL.
- C) Below 138% FPL, consumers qualify for Medi-Cal rather than exchange CSR benefits.
- D) The 250%-to-400% band may qualify for premium tax credits but not for cost-sharing reductions.
Memory hook
CSR lives in the 138-250 sweet spot, and only on silver.