Can anyone form an association to make a pool to make health insurance cheaper?

As everyone knows health insurance cost is much higher if you apply as an individual vs if you apply as a pool. I googled and found a lot of associations like school alumnis offering health insurance to their members but their prices were exactly same as healthcare.govSo my theory of being cheaper as a pool is not correct. I guess companies are offering cheaper rates to their employees because company pays part of it otherwise applying as an association or as a pool has no advantage? The reason I am asking is because I was wondering if anyone can form an association and gather bunch of people say hundreds and negotiate rates with one of the health insurance companies. Is this legal and is it technically possible? And is my theory of not being cheaper correct? Am I missing something here? via /r/HealthInsurance https://ift.tt/3jhvHCf