The insurance companies, and especially insurance brokers because they deal with most of the people that are buying direct, have taken advantage of the confusion/disinformation to make money. That shouldn't be a surprise. Humana has been particularly nefarious in "guiding" people into much higher premium policies than the ACA requires.
Bulletin... Attention Mr & Mrs America, and all the ships at sea... no company, or broker, is going to tell you
all your options.