The ACA adds minimum coverage guidelines for those plans, and also requires that they are available to folks with preexisting conditions, including pregnancy.

There are legions of stories of insurance from reputable companies (BCBS, etc) that fail to deliver value when they're needed. Theoretically, ACA holds the issuers to standards that guarantee service.

In combination with all of the above, this ends up being more expensive. There are other causes as well.

Same here. I'm self employed and my wife is stay at home. I went to anthem.com and signed up for a policy. I'm 29 and she is 27. It costs us $239/mo in Los Angeles.

I've been self employed since getting off my parents insurance, have always had health insurance and never had trouble getting a policy.

I don't really understand it either. When I was switching jobs I just bought insurance for $110 a month through Blue Cross Blue shield. It was a co paid plan with relatively cheap co pays. Under Obamacare I would pay $240 a month. Doesn't make much sense to me.