Part of what the Affordable Care Act guarantees, is that all new insurance plans have to meet certain requirements such as doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency care, maternity, pediatric care, prescriptions, etc.
New insurance plans will be rated based on the percentage of expenses covered by the plan and put into categories: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. The goal of this system is to make it easier for individuals to compare plans either on the same level, or across levels, to determine which one meets your needs, best.
Plans are designed for as your coverage goes up, so does your monthly premium payment, but your out-of-pocket expenses go down when you actually receive medical care. You can also choose to go the other route where you pay less monthly, and more at the time you receive treatment. This design allows people to choose the payment plan that best suits their unique needs.