How exactly does this bill exempt members of Congress (and their staffs) from the program(s) created by the bill? The provision you are quoting states that “the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are” created under the plan or are part of the health insurance exchange that is created by the plan. By my reading, this provision does precisely the opposite of what you’re saying - it prohibits the Federal Government from giving Members of Congress (and their staffs) anything that is not available to everyone else.
I think you are correct. All this does is say congressional staff has to buy into it as well. The only question is whether senior level staff are exempt.