but it was said that it would slow the increases of the last 20 years. I think it succeeded at that.

Which it actually has. But slowing the rate of increase is not the same as making costs go down.

During the 2008 election, then candidate Obama claimed that his healthplan would decrease your health costs up to $2500.00 a year.

Now granted, that was a campaign promise and not a policy estimate after the law was written, but that is the most often quoted decrease.

Two things to consider ... most people are not on an ACA plan (except here on DU, which happens to be the anti-real world) ... secondly, unless you are on an ACA plan, the increases in your premiums are due to your employer.