This narrative that ACA consumers liked the ACA’s dynamics once they understood them and the alternatives is just wrong.

Consumers did not like the ACA’s mechanics and ACA markets were in trouble, resulting in consideration of legislative solutions in 2017.

President Trump’s policy actions changed the consumer value equation and revitalized  the ACA market. Consumers liked the new market; they did not like the old one. 

It wasn’t that it took time to connect any dots in the market; it was that markets fundamentally changed.

If you think I’m kidding, let’s reverse all the changes and go back to 2017 and you will see what consumer think of the ACA’s original mechanics. Just listen to Democrats’ alarmism today about the expiration of temporary subsidies to address a temporary pandemic problem which never materialized.