Correct. Third and fourth parties introduce so many market distortions that free market price discovery is almost impossible.
People who take care of themselves would do well to check out an HSA or MSA rather than get involved with obamneycare. It's still cheaper for most middle class folks to fund and HSA AND pay the penalty than it is to pay some insane insurance premium. If you're healthy it makes no sense to reward and subsidize the masses of fat couch potato slobs.
An HSA is still an insurance plan theat has to be acquired through an insurance co. I currently have an HSA and my premium is set to double next month.