ACA: They should have segregated the 'shoppers' from the 'buyers'

[JoePhilly]

3. Probably because of all the state variances, and a fixed "go live" date.

You really can't have a single calculator because some states have their own exchanges, some will use the federal one, some states won't take the federal medicare funds, and then different companies are in different states.

So my bet is that, at least initially, you'll have to go to the actual sign-up site because that (ability to sign up) was required for any of this to start up by today.

The individuals state calculators, while a great thing to have for sure, were not an "application defining feature" at this point for the program to "go live" today. You could "go live" without it.

I'd expect those to be coming over time, perhaps even in these first 6 months of sign-up.

Bottom line, this is sufficient for some one who knows they want to sign up to be able to do so right away. And that was the most critical feature at this point.