The other is a tax credit to individuals that lowers the cost of monthly premiums. Single individuals qualify for premium assistance if they earn $12,060 to $48,240, and they can buy any “metal” plan — bronze, silver, gold or platinum — on a state or federal exchange.

Here’s where the fix came in. Many states — more than 40 — allowed insurers to compensate for the loss of C.S.R.s by raising the rates of their silver plans. Because the value of the premium tax credits rises and falls with the price of a silver plan, consumers who qualify will not pay more than a set amount of their income. Instead, the federal government picks up the tab of the rising costs.

In other words, insurers are allowed to claim subsidies, but through a different, more lucrative channel. It will also, not coincidentally, cost the government more than if it had simply paid the subsidies in the first place, because of the cost of covering higher premium rates for consumers who, by law, receive subsidies.

These consumers are no worse off whether they purchase silver plans or any other “metal” plan, which might include lower-deductible gold plans that also feature lower out-of-pocket expenses.