Isn’t Marketplace Plan Objectively Usually Better Than Employer Plan?

A point to keep in mind when asking this is: my wife has epilepsy that requires expensive, brand name medicines that also require “exception” status in order to be covered at all. I always paid for a PPO plan that included me, my wife, and my two daughters. I’m currently using COBRA to keep my health insurance so that I can keep those expensive medicines covered for the time being.

I was laid off from my job of 16 years, under which I had health insurance through the employer’s broker business plan. 60% of it was covered by the company, the other 40% out of my paycheck.

Since the layoff, I’ve been a contractor for a new company in which I negotiated a stipend to cover my monthly COBRA premium ($2,060/mo).

I will soon need to replace my old plan because COBRA time will run out. With my wife’s need for consistent medication type and coverage, and with my newly found job instability (and therefor healthcare instability) – I’ve started looking into Marketplace plans from Anthem and others.

Marketplace plans I’ve found that would cover what I need seem to cost ~$1,700/mo. Less than what I’m paying now with similar coverage.

My question is: with comparable prices and no threat of coverage loss regardless of what happens with employment, why do people not choose marketplace plans more often? It essentially removes the tie between employer and coverage, it seems.

Is the care not as good, or coverage not as comparable? Are employers typically not willing to let you “pocket” what they would otherwise contribute to your premiums under their own plan? I’m about to dive into a marketplace plan and I’m not seeing a big downside and I’m sure that must mean I’m missing something.

Thank you for your time!