What is a Cost-Sharing Reduction?
A Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) is an extra ACA discount that lowers your deductible, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum, and you can only get it by enrolling in a Silver Marketplace plan and having qualifying household income, per HealthCare.gov (2026).
More on this topic: subsidies and costs
What the government has said, on the record
Here's how a federal official described it, on the record:
“A discount that lowers the amount you have to pay for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. In the Health Insurance Marketplace, cost-sharing reductions are often called "extra savings." If you qualify, you must enroll in a plan in the Silver category to get the extra savings.”
— Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (HealthCare.gov), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services), HealthCare.gov Glossary, Cost-Sharing Reduction (source)
Editor's note: Official HealthCare.gov (CMS) definition. Confirm current rules at HealthCare.gov.
Who said this
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (HealthCare.gov) · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
Also asked as
- What is CSR ACA?
- Silver plan CSR
Sources
Last verified: 2026-07-19