I have slept on this and it occurred to me that there are several ways to skin a cat, even one of those ubiquitous, very pampered, and much photographed cats we see on Free Republic.
1. Half the states have rejected the exchanges from which insurance must be purchased. The Federal government must set them up, find the space and the people.
2. All the above must be financed by congressional appropriations.
3. If some or most of the money required is not available, the effort will die.
Rather than kill, an impossible course already tried, force the abomination to wither on the vine. The in extremis misery will produce all kinds of headaches and pain. The misery and failure will produce loud calls for repeal
Republicrats can be such political weasels. They have grown to love a large government. The larger it is the less their incompetence appears.