I've followed NY insurance premiums in the individual and small business market carefully for the last several years, and it is very hard for me to see how anyone came up with the 50% drop statistic. The linked article doesn't really help unfortunately.
The only thing I can think of is that they are comparing apples to oranges. The standardized plans available in the exchange are somewhat different from almost all plans that were available last year in the private market. In particular, and surprising to many not paying close attention, none of the exchange plans downstate have any out-of-network coverage at all. Not even the usual and customary rate reimbursement. So while it's true that you could easily have paid $1000/month or more for an individual health care plan last year (and remember NY has even stricter community ratings than ACA, everyone pays the same) it isn't true that the same plan is $500/month on the exchange.
Well, the ACA stipulates 60/70/80/90% for bronze/silver/gold platinum plans. 90% is pretty high but I'm sure there are "some pre-ACA plans" that pay more.
In general, it's preferable for the consumer to "have some skin the game" so that they might negotiate or increase discretion.
The difference between fixed-size copays and 10% of expenses for the top 0.5% of costliest patients is probably a huge number, so the premiums for those patients would logically decrease though their aggregate out-of-pocket expenses would go up. The point is that it will be a future cost for some people who are currently happy about their lowered premiums.
But I actually agree that consumers should have more skin in the game. My issue is that the statement, "My premiums are lowered!" does not imply that, "The ACA saved me money!" It's more complex than that, and it's plausible that many of the people with lowered premiums are getting a worse deal here.
The only thing I can think of is that they are comparing apples to oranges. The standardized plans available in the exchange are somewhat different from almost all plans that were available last year in the private market. In particular, and surprising to many not paying close attention, none of the exchange plans downstate have any out-of-network coverage at all. Not even the usual and customary rate reimbursement. So while it's true that you could easily have paid $1000/month or more for an individual health care plan last year (and remember NY has even stricter community ratings than ACA, everyone pays the same) it isn't true that the same plan is $500/month on the exchange.