I think many economists would say that while you had an employee-based plan your costs were actually going up significantly, you just didn't see it because those increases were coming out of (what would have been) your yearly salary raises.
I don't think ACA plans are much more expensive that what we are _really_ paying for employer insurance. I recently became unemployed and when I priced it out, an ACA plan that offered benefits similar to what I would get with a COBRA plan were pretty much the same price - both ridiculously expensive, so I went with a cheaper silver HMO ACA plan. And my old employer charged a 4% "fee" on COBRA premiums as well - I guess the benefits companies want some of the action.
I don't think ACA plans are much more expensive that what we are _really_ paying for employer insurance. I recently became unemployed and when I priced it out, an ACA plan that offered benefits similar to what I would get with a COBRA plan were pretty much the same price - both ridiculously expensive, so I went with a cheaper silver HMO ACA plan. And my old employer charged a 4% "fee" on COBRA premiums as well - I guess the benefits companies want some of the action.